February 12, 2007

• MARRIAGE AND TERRORISM

   

  In 1986, a now famous Newsweek Magazine article reported that those over 40 were more likely to be killed by a terrorist than to ever get married*.While we all seem highly likely to be killed by terrorists these days, I did find myself single again in my 40’s and I didn’t think my prospects for getting married again were very promising. In fact, I was fully resigned to staying single for the remainder of my life.

   

  Bachelorhood in your 40’s is not the bacchanalian-orgy-fest they make it out to be on TV and in the movies. There was never a hoard of scantily clad college coeds cavorting around my apartment. I typically spent most evenings eating peanut butter directly out of the jar while watching the Discovery Channel in my underwear, but it was simple, and that was enough.

   

  …and then I met Kathy.

   

  We are celebrating our fifth wedding anniversary this month.

   

  I am not a particularly self-aware person. I miss the glaringly obvious more often than not, but I do know this: I am an incredibly lucky man.

   

  I don’t mean that in some pseudo romantic – Hallmark Card – Lifetime Movie of the Week sort of way. It is simply an observation that 48 years of life-experience has allowed me to make.

   

  I’ve also never claimed to have any understanding of what women want; this is, and will always remain, life’s greatest mystery. It is my hope, however, than I can live each day (or at least most days) in a fashion that lets her know, that I know, how lucky I am.

   

  I’ve been working on a little project for our Anniversary for a few months now. As completely corny as it seems, I wrote a little song for her, recorded it in a friend’s studio, and put together a video to go with it. If your blood sugar level isn’t already too high and you’re not afraid you might go into a saccharine induced coma, you are welcome to watch the video. (If you suffer all the way through to the end, stick around for the gag reel) The lyrics to the song are posted below the video:

   

   

  TILL I FOUND YOU

  Words and Music by Mark LaBouff (ASCAP)

  Copyright 2006, by JPL Music

   

  As I stand looking down the road

  that leads into the past

  I can see love was always something

  that was just beyond my grasp;

  a mystery without a single clue,

  until the day, the day that I found you.

   

  Till I found you,

  I believed love was a war that’s fought in vain.

  Till I found you,

  I denied the hope that love was more than pain.

  Till I found you I always thought

  that those who found real love in life were few

  ‘cause I never dreamed for me it could be true,

  till I found you.

   

  Now that I finally found someone

  to love with no pretense,

  all of this talk of ever-after

  suddenly makes sense.

  To have a love like this makes each day new,

  and I found that the day that I found you.

   

  Till I found you,

  I believed love was a war that’s fought in vain.

  Till I found you,

  I denied the hope that love was more than pain.

  Till I found you I always thought

  that those who found real love in life were few

  ‘cause I never dreamed for me it could be true,

  till I found you.

   

  Till I found you I always thought

  that those who found real love in life were few

  ‘cause I never dreamed for me it could be true,

  till I found you.

   

  (* I realize the article said “women” over 40, but I changed the quote to serve my own silly literary purposes)

   

  • 11:13 am
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