This week’s post is going to have very little to do with China. There. You’ve been warned. You can just close this window on your browser and go about your day if you wish.
Oh, you stuck around? Gee, thanks, and have I mentioned that you’re my favourite reader? No? Well you are. So anyway, now that we’ve weeded out the riff raff, I can get on with what I really want to write about this week.
“You’re not writing about China…but why? What could you possibly have to write about that is better than another ridiculous anecdote from your daily life? How about a goofy one-liner from that hilarious husband of yours?” you are grumbling under your breath.
Well, you see, Monday October 22 is a very special day and I want to acknowledge it.
It’s my parents’ wedding anniversary and this year, they will have been married for 35 years. And I happen to think that that is worth celebrating.
Unfortunately, living overseas means that one often has to miss a lot of these important dates in people’s lives (weddings, births, birthdays, anniversaries), and the truth is, that sucks. It’s always difficult to know that I can’t be with my family for most of these milestones, and even though I appreciate technology, emails and Facebook wall posts and Skype dates and having my brother buy cards and sign my name to them just aren’t the same (but thanks for doing it!).
To my parents,
Happy 35th wedding anniversary! I’m sorry I can’t be there to tell you that in person, and I hope you know how much I wish I could be.
And thank you.
Thank you for everything you’ve done for my brother and I – raising us to be (I think) good, hardworking adults, providing us with as many opportunities as you have, and always encouraging us. Thank you for letting us make our own decisions in life and supporting us, no matter what. Thank you for your continued advice.
Thank you for the care packages you send me, and for coming to visit me in China. Thank you for laughing off your kidnappings (each of you), and for traveling halfway around the world so that you could be a part of my wedding.
Thank you for showing us what a great, real marriage is, and for always loving each other, even when you were driving each other crazy. I certainly hope that my own marriage is as successful and lasting as yours.
Have a wonderful day, and treat yourselves. I think after 35 years, you’ve earned it!
Lots of love,
Kelly (and hilarious husband, too!)
Beautiful tribute.
Thanks – they’re pretty great folks! And this, for me, is one of the hardest parts about being an expat…the not being there.
I can understand.
I hear you! I’ve missed 3 child births, several weddings (and major anniversaries) and a few funerals, not to mention nearly every single birthday since, oh, 2002 (including my own). It’s hard! Congratulations to your parents for 35 awesome years!
We definitely need to invest our money with someone working on a teleportation device. Know anyone?