29 Comments
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Jessica's avatar

With words. A writer measures a marriage with words. Beautifully put.

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thank you, Jessica. Very true.

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Jolina Petersheim's avatar

My favorite post yet. I loved the images I could see as I read.

My twenty-something-year-old cousin recently told my mom that his parents should just pull the plug on their relationship because it is full of such ups and downs. She replied, “LIFE is full of ups and downs.” I heard that right when we were in the thick of sick children and no sleep and found that it took the pressure off. Sometimes you just have to ride the waves until the break comes.

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thanks for the encouragement. And yeah, I hear you, Jolina, about riding the ups and downs.

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Beka McDowell's avatar

Goodness. This is stunning. Thank you for putting words to the measuring of life together. We're at 25 years, too. And while they have held more uncertainty and pain than I could have imagined, they have been lived in hope and trust and love. Happy Anniversary, my friends.

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thanks so much, Beka! And congrats to you guys!

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Don Pape's avatar

So lovely to read. Celebrating 40 years with one amazing, incredible, amusing best friend and yes time flies but it is all good. Rich. And we laugh. That’s the gift!

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

That's awesome, Don! Laughter is definitely one of the gifts.

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Teyani Whitman's avatar

So deeply beautiful. Life lived in its full expansive glory.

You’re in the right place here as a writer Shawn.

Thank you for sharing your awesome 25th commitment to each other 💞

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Niki Hardy's avatar

Beautiful. Reminds me of the opening verse of Seasons of Love from Rent!

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Tanya Marlow's avatar

Congratulations! Our 25th is next year, and I am pondering that question, too.

Also, I didn’t know that you’d lived in England! So you really do know about the rain we have here. Jon and I lived in Oxford for a while and went walking in the Cotswolds.

Thanks, as ever, for your beautiful writing.

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

Tanya! Yes, we lived between Oxford and London for four years, some of our favorite years. Congrats to you on your approach to 25 years.

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Annette Kristynik's avatar

Happy Anniversary!

I’d rather not weigh or measure mine.

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Shannan Martin's avatar

Happiest anniversary, friends. Cory and I were married within weeks of you! We hit 25 in a few days. I find myself wishing we could all sit around a patio table together. 💕

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

One of these days that's going to happen, Shannan! I've wanted to hang out with you and Cory for a long time! Maybe we can convince you guys to come do an event at the bookstore sometime . . . whatever it takes :)

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Lisa's avatar

So beautiful. Happy anniversary! Cheers to many more!

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Shawn Smucker's avatar

Thanks, friend and fellow bookshop person!

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Sophia's avatar

This is beautiful, thank you! I've just read it on the morning of our 4th wedding anniversary, and it brought tears to my eyes. We are still just starting out, yet in 4 years we have 2 babies in heaven, and 2 babies on earth, and I already feel the awe and wonder of a shared life together that cannot be fully put into words. Congratulations on your 25 years.

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Sherry V. Chidwick's avatar

This is beautiful. I have had similar feelings and questions as I look back on my own marriage. Now that we have sold everything and are hitting the road as nomads, the past 32 years--80% struggle and 20% pure joy--the past has a haze over it, softening the hard edges. I'm not sure how we made it, but here we are.

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Josh Caliguire's avatar

Loved this, my friend! Thank you!!

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Amy Mantravadi's avatar

Beautiful. Thanks for sharing.

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nancyaruegg.com's avatar

Such a poignant read, Shawn. You've chosen the best way to measure a marriage: by lining up the memories alongside the lessons learned. I love the way you took mental snapshots at five-year intervals to trace your progress--as a family, in business, in your relationship. Heart-warming!

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Karen Milioto's avatar

This is so beautiful, Shawn.

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