Today, I have been married to Tracy for 23 years. They have been good years. In fact, they have been my best years. Although the memory of that day in 1992 has faded, the resolve to love her is getting stronger. I think of my Grandma and Grandpa Marcus.

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They were married for, something like, 65 years. They didn’t make it to my wedding. Grandma was sick and Grandpa didn’t want to leave her alone while the rest of the family was celebrating. So, he stayed by her side, even though she never knew he was there. She had Alzheimer’s. As I spoke with Grandpa later the next day, as we were leaving from the airport, I thanked him for providing the best example of what it means to say, “I do.”

Both of them are up in heaven now and I think of them often. Today, I remember their marriage, my own marriage, and how I want to be married for at least 50 more years.

This is one of my favorite poems. It’s about Tracy.

She Walks in Beauty by Lord Byron

SHE walks in beauty, like the night
Of cloudless climes and starry skies;
And all that ‘s best of dark and bright
Meet in her aspect and her eyes:
Thus mellow’d to that tender light
Which heaven to gaudy day denies.
One shade the more, one ray the less,
Had half impair’d the nameless grace
Which waves in every raven tress,
Or softly lightens o’er her face;
Where thoughts serenely sweet express
How pure, how dear their dwelling-place.

And on that cheek, and o’er that brow,
So soft, so calm, yet eloquent,
The smiles that win, the tints that glow,
But tell of days in goodness spent,
A mind at peace with all below,
A heart whose love is innocent!