I walked into the bathroom the other day and found two toilet paper rolls sitting on the counter with cartoonish frowny faces and the words “Recycle me” drawn on them. The one toilet paper character looked like it was giving me the finger.
I did the only logical thing, which was to take another toilet paper roll, cut it in half and make two little toilet paper roll children with the words “Mama” and “Dada” on them.
These are the types of love notes you send after 31 years of marriage.
Next weekend, Dave and I will celebrate our 31st wedding anniversary. In a funny twist of fate, we’ll be spending it up north at the same cottage we spent our honeymoon before going to Algonquin Park to see Grace.
I wish I had some brilliant insights about marriage but I don’t. After 31 years of marriage, I truly believe it’s a crap shoot whether people stay together or split up. We’ve just been lucky at crap.
The one thing I will say and they don’t tell you in marriage courses is marriage changes over time.
You start out madly in love and lust, then become each other’s best friends as you begin to build a life together. Children rock your world and your relationship takes second string as you focus on raising your kids.
You learn to live with each other’s foibles and idiosyncracies and intimately know each other’s aches and pains, regrets and dreams.
But if you’re lucky, you still wake up every morning not being able to imagine going through life without that person by your side, sharing a laugh or two, and planning your next adventure together.
Just make sure you recycle the toilet paper rolls and put the seat down before heading out.
Happy Act 
Well said Laurie. Love your line “You learn to live with each other’s foibles and idiosyncracies and intimately know each other’s aches and pains, regrets and dreams.” I can definitely relate. It’s funny how the foibles that might have bothered me years ago have become the things I know to expect and love about my wife. It’s hard work but well worth it. Happy anniversary and congratulations!
Hi Brian. It sounds like you are part of the lucky club we share of growing old together and still appreciating the other person we’ve chosen to spend our lives with. Here’s to you and your wife!
What a heartwarming and humorous story about love and marriage! 😄
The toilet paper roll characters and the “Mama” and “Dada” addition are such a playful and endearing way to celebrate 31 years of marriage. It’s clear that your bond is not only strong but also filled with laughter and creativity.
Your reflections on marriage changing over time are spot on. It’s a journey filled with different stages and experiences, from the early days of passion to becoming each other’s best friends and raising kids together. And through it all, it’s the little things like sharing a laugh and planning adventures that make it all worthwhile.
Congratulations on your upcoming 31st wedding anniversary, and may you continue to enjoy the journey of love and laughter together for many more years to come! 🥂💑❤️
Thank you so much for these warm, wonderful kind words!
Maybe you can write a review of “The American Happiness Propaganda” (Colin Bear). I think some thoughts of the author are really true .. Best regards, Joanna