The tree behind us is a dogwood. I know that because a man we encountered on one of our walks told us when we asked. Then he offered to take our picture in front of the tree. Afterwards, he handed the phone back to me and said, “I like seeing people in love.”My Husband Walking
(musings from my notebook)
On his first morning home from the hospital I listen to the sound of my husband walking, bare feet padding determinedly along the floor. I am reassured by the sound of his footsteps tracing a back and forth route from the laundry room at one end of the house to the kitchen at the other. Instructed to walk a mile every day of his convalescence, he is dedicated to the task. He walks the route several times throughout the day.
After a few days his stride picks up, his heels land stronger, with force enough to rattle the small things cluttering the table and the desktop. A few days more and he graduates to walking the driveway. I cannot hear his footsteps outside. I realize I miss the sound.
~~~~~
Weeks before my husband’s surgery, we began walking. We needed the time together, the closeness, the exercise – all of it to be ready for whatever was to come. Yesterday, the thirteenth day after his surgery, he had the catheter and staples removed. There is still work ahead to get him back to where he was, but I look forward to our renewed walking in the evening again.
Today is our anniversary. Today we have been married for thirty years. It’s impossible to calculate how many miles we’ve accumulated in our walking through all that time. Sometimes, I wonder how we’ve managed such a feat. And then I remember this:
“Love does not consist in gazing at each other, but in looking outward together in the same direction.” ~~ Antoine de Saint-Expuery
And I realize that that is the thing that has gotten us to where we are, that looking outward in the same direction. Here’s to us walking, looking outward together for thirty more.
A Wilderness of Words 
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Beautiful, Mary. I hope the healing is speedy and complete – and that there are many more years of walking together.
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Extraordinarily lovely reflection, Mary.
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Happy Anniversary. Best wishes to you and your husband.
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Thirty years – that is quite a milestone . I’ll be at 26 this fall and there have been all sorts of twists and turns along the way. Staying together and walking together is way to keep loving forward. Wishing a full recovery and more walks, many more walks. Peace
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I love walking. It’s like meditation to me. Some of my best writing popped into my mind while walking.
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I admire your writing as I do your devotion to your marriage. Keep walking and sharing.
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Beautiful reflection Mary. Hope you and Bob have many more years walking together.
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Lovely post. Happy Anniversary to you both. Hope your husband’s recovery continues well.
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Here’s to the thirty years of your walk together, and to the thirty yet to come.
Blessings and good wishes to your husband.
And Happy Anniversary, you beautiful kids.
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Absolutely beautiful, Mary. Your writing gives me goosebumps.
Happy Anniversary! xo
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Mary, I love everything about this post. The photo of “people in love” in front of the Dogwood (very common and beloved in my part of the world), your always beautiful writing, the Antoine de Saint-Expuery quote, and your husband’s recovery. Thinking of you both, the life and love you share, and sending all good thoughts for healing.
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Mary, you hit me right where I live, with this one. Of course. This is exactly the essence. Thank you…
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beautiful story..gave me a new perspective as I found myself being annoyed with my husband today..thank you for taking me on your walk and looking forward now to my own walk with my husband of 43 years….
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Thank you, Laura. Some days are fraught with annoyances, but walking together does help with that I find. Congratulations on 43 years!
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