Happy anniversary

Posted By: Peter DavidPosted On:

Twenty years ago, my first marriage fell apart. Understand that that wasn’t supposed to happen. When I took my wedding vows–when I said “‘Til Death Do Us Part”–I meant it. I knew I had been extremely lucky in finding love and I knew I wasn’t the kind of guy who could be that fortunate twice. So I was convinced that I was going to spend the rest of my life alone…assuming that I didn’t just end it and escape the pain.

Yet I was foolish enough to approach an old friend of mine, Kathleen O’Shea, who lived down in Atlanta, and told her that I was interested in pursuing a more romantic relationship.

Several years later, with the agony of the divorce behind me, I was going to propose to her. My attorney strongly advised me to have her sign a prenup. She said she was willing to do it.

And I thought about it and thought about it and decided that I couldn’t. How could I say, once again, “‘Til Death Do Us Part” if I had made preparations for the marriage ending prematurely? The words would have no meaning. “‘Til death do us part unless we break up in which case you get nothing.” That doesn’t sound romantic.

So, like Indiana Jones in “Last Crusade” (which we just watched two days ago because it opened thirty years ago that day) I took a leap of faith off the lion’s mouth. I should mention that my parents adored Kathleen since they had been worried that I would never be happy again, and she made me very, very happy.

That was eighteen years ago today. She’s fond of saying that our marriage is now old enough to vote. It has been an amazing eighteen years. We’ve been through a lot together (near bankruptcy; stroke) but we have been blessed with friends, loving family, and a now-sixteen year old daughter. We’re really looking forward to the 21st anniversary, when it will not only be old enough to drink, but will exceed the twenty years of the first marriage. At this point health scares are behind us, money is fine, everything is going great. Perhaps I’m tempting the evil eye in saying that, but as long as we’re together, I’m not afraid of any risk. I love you, Kathleen.

PAD

19 comments on “Happy anniversary”

  4. All the best is not enough. As the sages said, “Love is all you need”.

  7. Happy anniversary, Peter and Kathleen. And, your fans can hear the story of how Harlan Ellison (who would have turned 85 today) served as the best man at your wedding, and your subsequent encounter, years later, with him and Susan in your honeymoon suite, in the Harlan Ellison Memorial Panel, recorded at L.I. Geek 2018, and now posted at http://www.captphilonline.com/Destinies.html.

  13. Peter, Kathleen, may you both live as long as you love and love as long as you live.

  14. I’m a long time reader but infrequent commenter. Thank you for sharing. I’m very glad you both have found happiness. Happy Anniversary!

  16. If your first marriage wasn’t supposed to fall apart, then why did you push it to that point by choosing to make yourself morbidly obese and therefore causing disgust?

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