He ogled me when he met me in college, and he still ogles me today. I love it!
I read somewhere that when people have loved each other for a very long time, love doesn’t get old. It gets better. Today my husband, George, and I have been married forty-one years, and I can attest to the truth of that statement. He still makes my heart flutter. Even just thinking about him, which I do so frequently during the day while he’s away, makes me smile at some remembered thing he said or a look he gave me. He calls me every morning when he gets to work to tell me he’s safe, and he calls me every evening when he leaves the office to tell me he’s on his way home. He always adds, “Can’t wait to get home to you.”
We were just 22 and 23 when we married. It didn’t seem so young at the time, and many of our peers married at the same age. 
As I look around at other people that age now, I can’t believe how young we were when we made that commitment to each other. So many young people today are still trying to figure out who they are and what career path they are on, even into their thirties, and by the time we were 28 and 29, George already had his Master’s degree, was the Director of Security and Safety at a college outside Philadelphia, and we had three children.
This weekend we painted our dining room and stripped the wallpaper off the downstairs bathroom and scrubbed glue off the walls. We laughed that it was a funny way to celebrate our anniversary weekend. But we were working together, so it felt good and right. “Don’t you feel like newlyweds?” my husband asked me, standing on a ladder with a paintbrush in his hand. We bought this house three and a half years ago and are slowly trying to put our own stamp on it to make it feel truly ours. He continued. “Working together like this makes me feel that we are those young kids we were when we got married.” Aren’t we? I thought. Just don’t go near any mirrors and we can perpetuate the fantasy. I knew exactly what he was saying, and I felt it, too.
So much has changed during our marriage, and nothing has changed. I don’t know where these past 41 years have gone. I want time to slow down because all those many years went by in a flash, and I know we don’t have another 41 years to spend with each other. One lifetime will not be enough to contain the love we have between us. Happy Anniversary to my sweetest Forever Love.
Coming East 
What a beautiful post, Susan. So inspired and blessed by your words of love and wisdom. Love the photos!
Thanks, Yen! So happy to hear from you!
This is such a beautiful post. A belated Happy Anniversary to you and George!
Thanks, Robin. I can’t wait for the day when George can retire so we can spend more time together.
Is it odd for me to say I find this post sexy? What a wonderful story to read about a couple married over 40 yrs and still having ‘newlywed’ feelings! Goodness. I love this post, and I love the passion the two of you continue to share for each other. Congratulations.
Oooh, I love that you thought it was sexy, LD. Um…I don’t thing our kids would see it that way.
LOVE this post…
Thank you, Ems. You definitely were raised in a loving home.
This is so sweet and life-affirming. Thank you for sharing your special day, and many, many more happy years to you both!
Thanks, Peg. All these well-wishes make me feel blessed.
What a wonderful, wonderful post! Happy anniversary to you both 🙂
Thanks, Ken. The adventure continues…
well this got me teary eyed…how beautiful!! I feel like I’ve wasted so many years ( two marriages – and divorces, and more boyfriends than I want to admit to). From it I have three amazing kids and have learned so much about myself. I’m now with someone I see being with till the end ( fingers crossed), but seeing your photos and feeling the love in your words is heart melting…(seriously..tears in my eyes. ) thanks for sharing xo
So glad you have found someone you want to share the rest of your life with, Smile. Don’t think of the years in the past. Leave them where they belong…in the past. Just cherish what you have now. Hugs!
Happy anniversary! I love the pics. 🙂
Thanks, Murphy. Wish we still had hair like that!
Happy Anniversary! You’re post is so full of love and celebration. 41 years is wonderful. It’s such a blessing that you two are still so much in love and full of joy as in your youth. Congratulations! 🙂
Thanks, E.C. This is what I dreamed about when I was a teenager growing up—meeting a wonderful man and falling madly in love. Dreams do come true.
So sweet, Susan! Happy Anniversary to you and George!
Thanks, Jiawei!
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary you two lovebirds. 🙂 What great pictures, and love story to go with them. I’m proud to call you friends.
Thanks, Patti! Right now I’m missing you, my friend. Can’t wait until all this house painting craziness is over so we can get together again. Plus, we need warmer weather.
Oh, Susan–this post warmed my heart! Happy Anniversary to you both!
Thanks, Sally. We had a wonderful anniversary dinner tonight and reminisced.
Oh, how sweet. Happy Anniversary to you and George. My husband and I have a very similar story, going on 39 years. I think it was like that for a lot of people then – people were ready to make a serious commitment at a younger age, and most tended to stay together. The best part of marrying young is that you still are young enough to enjoy your time together once the kids move out. Our current generation will be putting kids through college into their 60’s and perhaps will not live long enough to enjoy grandchildren.
You are so right, HG. We were talking about that at dinner tonight, how most of the people we knew when we were getting married are still together. The age thing is also true. On the other side of that is that we never had the money when our kids were growing up to take them on great trips or pay for all of their college expenses. Older couples are better financially prepared than we were.
Happy Anniversary to the beautiful couple! Thank you so much for sharing your love story and beautiful photos.
Thanks for reading our little love story, Amy.
Awww, happy anniversary to you both! 🙂
Thanks, Eye!
Congratulations! Your photos, old & new resonate your words. Love is written all over your faces, so cheers to you for keeping it alive!
Thanks, LWTTD. Being married to a man like my George makes it easy to keep love alive.
HAPPY ANNIVERSARY! Beautiful post! Beautiful couple! Start planning for your GOLDEN ANNIVERSARY! God bless you with many more years of marital bliss!
Thank you, Shofar. I still remember my grandparents and parents 50th anniversary. Can we possibly be getting that old, too?
No, we’re not getting old, it’s our kids getting older! And my grandkids, 2 girls are already driving and the youngest doesn’t need help anymore with his bath!
Uh oh, driving! Scary! Our oldest granddaughter is turning 15, so it won’t be long for her either, Shofar.
Susan, the third oldest is asking about getting her permit. She’ll be 16 this year and her parents are trying to hold her off! I drove when I was 15, got my license and drove my 2 sisters and 2 neighbor kids to high school a mile from our home. There was no bus pick up. I don’t know where you live, but here we have 900,000 on our little island and freeways that you wouldn’t want to drive on! It is insane. . .
Liz
Liz, my granddaughter lives in a small town in Michigan. My daughter would love for her to get her license as soon as she turns 16 so she can take over some of the driving chores. If she doesn’t pull her grades up, though, she may never get her license. LOL
Happy Anniversary! We remember that day 41 years ago.
I would hope you remembered it, Brother. You were a big part of it!
Just so you know, you not only exude love between each other, you spread it all around you. We’re honored to call you friends. This post reminds me of one of my favorite quotes: “You can’t sprinkle happiness on someone else without spilling a few drops on yourself.”
Wow, Al! Such a sweet thing to say! You and Patti sprinkle a lot of your own happiness around, too. That’s why we enjoy spending time,with you.
What a blessing to read these words! Happy Anniversary. This should be required reading for everyone considering marriage. So many people just have no idea how love can stay fresh yet mature into something richer and deeper — and keep getting better and better. I’m “just” 25 years in to marriage and am encouraged.
Loved your comment, Counsel. I remember way back when we celebrated 25 years. Great accomplishment for you, too!
You two are the “picture” of true love. A very good-looking couple too 🙂 . Happy Anniversary!
Thanks, Stacia. I think we get better-looking, too…or is that because our eyes are failing? LOL
Congratulations! May you have many more happy years together!
Thanks, Maire. I hope so, too!
Happy Anniversary! A lovely post, my hubby called the same way when he was working, I love it! The photos of those kids were cute, but the recent photo is beautiful. It shows a couple in love, having withstood the tests of time, kids, careers and life. You are beautiful! thanks for sharing this with us. DAF
Thank you for that wonderful comment, DAF.
Happy Anniversary! Congrats to both of you on finding that special one!
Thanks, 50’s. We feel truly blessed to have found each other.
Aww…….this is so very sweet! I love the photos, and the things your hubby said to you while you two were working together on the house. And I love that he calls you every morning and every evening, and that he can’t wait to get home to you. What wonderful love story you two have! Happy Anniversary, and I wish you many, many more!
Thanks, Dianna. By the way, we are looking forward to meeting your sweet hubby when you are in the area, maybe the next time you are on your way to OBX.
Sounds great. He’s a good guy!
What’s not to love about this post? Happy Anniversary. Wishing you more DIY moments together.
Thanks, Georgette. Once we finish the dining room and the downstairs bathroom, I think we are done for awhile. This has been going on for way too long! In July or August we tackle our bedroom…groan.
Happy Anniversary! Great photos. You have a decade on us… hard to believe it’s been 31 years and have no idea where the time went. I admire your painting skills… just be careful getting on those ladders!
Thank you, Grandma. It’s a short ladder, so no worries. Thirty-one years is quite an accomplishment, too.