A Different Kind of Amazing Race

As you know, there was not a new episode of the Race last night due to the season finale of Survivor. So I will take this opportunity to blog about a different, though still amazing, race. On Saturday, Bill and I will celebrate thirty-five years of marriage. We are living proof that two people, from very different backgrounds, can indeed live "happily ever after." Permit me to compare and contrast...

In the Gappmayer house, Mom (Grandma) reigned supreme. She ran a tough ship from atop her pedestal. If we wanted to be happy, we knew we had to keep Mom happy.

In the Reed house, boys were king. As with many southern families, Mom lived to serve the male members of her household, to make sure they were adequately fed and hydrated at all times and to make sure they were completely dependant on the women in their lives.

In the Gappmayer house, Mad magazine, the Three Stooges and the "Our Gang" comedies were considered low class and it was generally believed that they gave children bad ideas.

In the Reed house, the children not only got bad ideas from the above sources, they acted on them. Setting fires, playing in dirty alleys and generally running wild from dawn until dusk.

Food in the Gappmayer house consisted almost entirely of casseroles and jello salads. There was usually some kind of creamed soup involved in the preparation.

The Reeds actually ate vegetables--things like okra, greens and grits. Bacon fat was saved and used to flavor nearly everything.

The Gappmayers listened to Tabernacle Choir recordings.

The Reeds made their own music with guitars and banjos.

I could go on and on with the differences in culture, background and traditions, but the really important thing was that both families loved the Lord and taught their children to walk in truth and righteousness. With that foundation, differences become much less important.

It has been a truly amazing thirty-five year race. We have gone through times of poverty when we did our Christmas shopping at Pic 'N Save and our school clothes shopping at the thrift store. I remember one year when the transmission went out on our car and I ended up in the bathroom, throwing up and crying, when we got the $1,500.00 bill. We have gone through times of heartbreak, when our children were unhappy or at risk. We have lost people that we love. But for every moment of struggle or sorrow there have been a thousand moments of joy. With a shared faith and an abiding friendship we have found moments of comfort and joy even in the midst of distress.

The key to a happy marriage is not creating out of your chosen partner someone they are not. It is looking for the wonderful uniqueness in them and learning to either enjoy it or ignore it. And just like on the Amazing Race, the key to success is having a really, really good partner.

Thank you, Bill, for being my eternal partner. Let's go for another thirty-five!

I LOVE YOU, BILL REED!!!