A Journey of Ten Years

Ten years ago I married a man whom I hardly knew. The match was arranged by our families and I gave my consent after a brief meeting with him in the presence of all our family members.

After the engagement he would come to visit me at home as I had not agreed to talk on the phone. I felt that unreserved phone conversations could lead to misunderstanding between two people who hardly knew each other. After all we had all our lives to get to know each other.

It may sound bizarre that two very educated people in this day and age agreed to get married without knowing each other. But ten years down the road we have found love and respect for each other, the ability to be comfortable with each other and let each other be comfortable in our own spaces. We have been together in sickness and in health. We trust each other and look after each other. We are independent people and yet we depend on each other. We may not hold hands in public but we share an intense attraction for each other.

We have got on each other’s nerves and got into arguments but I never remember having stopped talking to each other. There have been bad times too but we never gave up on each other. We just worked things out.

We both have a fondness for travel and discovering new places. Together we have seen 8 countries from the Far East to Europe to the United States. Not only were we learning about new cultures and people but also little by little of each other. It has been an exciting journey.

Yesterday we had gone out at night because my husband wanted to buy a screen protector for his new phone. It was out of stock and we decided to go home but stop for coffee on the way back. As we reached near the coffee place my husband asked me if I was up for it and I told him I was too tired and that we should just head home. We had stopped on the red light when a car apparently out of control crashed through the divider and towards us. It stopped just in front of us. The driver and the passenger were unhurt but if we had decided to go to the coffee place we would have been in the left most lane and surely would have been hit.

It was a scary experience and when I saw that car coming towards us I called out to my husband. That was my first reaction. After a while we both realized how close we had come to being hurt badly. We could have been in the hospital on our anniversary.

Instead, by the Grace of God we will celebrate our tenth wedding anniversary tomorrow night with our amazing son and close family next to the beautiful Dubai fountains.

A journey of ten years,

Around the world and with each other,

Are marriages made in heaven?

Yes maybe. For beyond us it is rather,

The factors that come into play

That bring two people together.

But then it’s up to us two

To make things work face to face

Never giving up on each other,

And forever praying for God’s grace.

Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine?

1. I’m a Writer, Yes I Am
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3. Daily Prompt: Unconventional Love – Strangely True | SERENDIPITY
4. MY STRANGELY WONDERFUL ROMANCE | SERENDIPITY
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6. Hallmark holiday | Mindful Digressions
7. False Expectations | snapshotsofawanderingheart
8. Playlist | Perceptive Pot Clueless Kettle
9. Fragrant valentine | The Seminary of Praying Mantis
10. Valentine’s Day Can’t Insult My Intelligence if There’s Snow | Bumblepuppies
11. Love Surrounds You | ReFreshing Life
12. Lessons from the Ghosts of Valentines Past | The Femindiary
13. Day 25: Why I Married a Man who got me a Hairdryer for Valentine’s Day | The Ravenously Disappearing Woman
14. Validation Day – Valentine’s Day from an Honest Woman’s Perspective | Shoot the messenger
15. Weekly Writing Challenge| Single Awareness Day | Amy (and The Teddy With Sunglasses)
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17. Afraid of Valentine’s Day? | Myammy! Moving in together at 50…
18. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine. It’s Not Always FUNny. | Tales from the Motherland
19. I’ve been alone for a long time | “The Ish,” presented by the Bohemian Rock Star
20. Ah Bloody Valentines! | The life of T
21. Brief facts on Valentines day/Weekly Writing challenge | standinginthestorm
22. Weekly Writing Challenge – Valentine – The Hopeless Unromantic |
23. I Should Have At Least Called | Sam’s Online Journal
24. Ode to My Valentine | DCTdesigns Creative Canvas
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26. Not Your Average Valentine | The Short Pages
27. My Funny Valentine: Monday Monster Mashup meets the Weekly Writing Challenge! | jak & Cimmy’s Journal Jar
28. (Un)Funny Valentine – Daily Post “My Funny Valentine?” Challenge 2/10/2014 | blogged artistry
29. To My Valentine… | Babbleogue
30. Love of Many Shoes | Mary J Melange
31. Valentine, Part Two/DP Challenge | I’m a Writer, Yes I Am
32. It’s Valentine’s Day! | TNT
33. St. Hallmark Day Doth Approach | The Eclectic Poet
34. Valentine’s Day…some wifely advice
35. The Boy I Married | East Meets Breast
36. The Valentine’s Letter I wished I’d sent…. | Brownies, Pixies & Horny Toads
37. [WWC] Valentine’s day | Reatividades
38. My Funny Valentine? | “Crone-ing”
39. My Forever Crush | My Weigh To Lose
40. Weekly Writing Challenge: My Funny Valentine? – Love, Love, Love | SA:ME (사메)
41. A STRANGELY WONDERFUL ROMANCE | SERENDIPITY
42. Last Minute Expressions of Love | Moments for the journey
43. The Good Wife | Cabin Pressure May Change
44. Weekly Writing Challenge-Love As An Earthling- A Comedy | The Lyons Den
45. We Will Review The Cows! | Not the Family Business!
46. Preparing for My First Real Valentine’s Day | Lilly Lane
47. Get your lovin’ on | why i left my job
48. VISITAS Y PAISES | palabrasdecielo.wordpress.com
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