Magic trick: how to make forty years disappear in an instant.
April 10, 1982, Arlington, Virginia:
This beautiful woman........
...through the most impressive feat of hypnotism ever pulled off agreed to marry me
in a double wedding with my brother and his wife in what the Washington press
unofficially called "the Axis wedding," since the women were from Germany and Japan:
In the meantime, we have........
had two daughters, who now have children of their own
been to places spanning three oceans
been to dozens of countries
lost parents
beat deadly cancer
beat serious heart ailment
met with presidents and vice-presidents, senators, congresspeople and a Supreme Court Justice
met and made friends with known people as diverse as Stan Lee, Dr. Ruth, and Howard Dean, among MANY others
met and made friends with even more people no one has ever heard of or cares about
lost close friends, parents and grandparents
and........mostly.........
gone through the same stuff most people do: gotten up too early, worked too long, and gotten too little sleep.
But we've done it together. We met at age 22. We'll both be 70 this year (I already am). We married at age 30,
almost didn't find time for it if my brother hadn't invited us to be part of the double wedding.
And it all seems like it went by in less time than it takes to snap your fingers and say, "Wake Up!"
And so here we are, after a 27 hour trip, in a tropical resort up the Kohala Coast on the Big Island of Hawai'i, celebrating with our daughters, their men, their children, and my sister and her husband. My crazy younger daughter, who went to high school here for two years, is making good on her promise after I put her through college and law school. Since I blew what cash I got from my inheritance on my daughters' educations in the USA, the younger one said that if she did well in the legal profession, she would pay me back. I told her at graduation to not even entertain the notion, as I had no intention of considering such a thing. But this is a woman who, as a two year old, was already dubbed "Madame 10,000 Volts" by one of my wife's girlfriends. She made partner in one of the most important New York law firms at age 31 (their youngest ever), and already makes many multiples of what I do. Every time I try to pick up the tab for things like our air fare, our hotel, etc., I am politely told, "it has already been taken care of, sir."
Here we are, arriving less than 2 days ago, at our hotel here near Kawa'ihae:
In an hour, we leave for our 40th anniversary private luau--arranged by our daughter, of course. I regret mightily that my brother couldn't make it, but people our age have stuff they gotta do, and the timing can't be imposed, not even by siblings.
I guess if you're religious (we most definitely are not), you might say we've been blessed. As children of the sixties, we prefer to say we lucked out. My wife was a social worker, we're not blind. Some luck out. Many, maybe most, do not. But there is hope, and this little story is here to remind people, especially people much younger than we now are--if things aren't what you want them to be, they still COULD be. And if you DO get lucky, be nonetheless prepared for this--it will all be over before you know it. Forty years? Hell, I don't recall it being forty minutes.
= new reply since forum marked as read
It was very special 
I'll leave it at that!!!
Gratuliert!!!!
Just in case there really WAS something to this "master race" stuff they were touting.......
Enjoy your stay on the islands!
Your dance card is full! All activities sound like fun. I'm sure it would be a challenge to not enjoy it!
Glad you got to go now, and right after your B-day too.
Sounds like an amazing life (in progress - hope you two get many more years). Congratulations.
May you have 40 more.
Happy Anniversary and here’s to lucking out. 
although I’m sure quite a bit of hard work was involved.
you've paid it forward. Happy 40th anniversary, your ruby year, traditionally. 
And we STILL have no idea what they are!
And you're right - you've been punching above your weight class for years! 
Many more good years wished for you and your lovely bride!
I never once read anything that you wrote being vindictive, rude, or disrespectful. I may not always reply to your OP's; although I love reading your OP's and I adore that you share your amazing photos with us. You are an absolute treasure on DU.
Stay blessed and here's to you both!
I was just too lazy to write "exhausted."
But it was better spent on them than on us, as it proved to be. The jackpot, indeed!
Wish I could meet you both.
I'm 80 and we're celebrating our 53rd tomorrow.
Hang in there.
But we don’t to jinx it by making too many predictions this early into things…..