Well, last night my wife made the sweetest unreasonable request of me.

[NNadir]

We were talking on the bed, and out of nowhere, she said, "Honey, can you please live at least five more years. I don't want to live without you."

I'm facing a health problem, something treatable but potentially serious, with some risk, and she said that to me, out of nowhere.

I know her 44 years, in two of which I was living the treacly lyrics of the pop song "Cherish," this while running into her with the latest in series of her boyfriends:

...You don't know how many times I've wished that I had told you
You don't know how many times I've wished that I could hold you...

...but unlike the wimp in the song, I told her and got to hold her...

...and here we are, all these years later...

...and she's so damned sweet...

I can't believe I got to live this life with her; she made it so damned wonderful.

Whenever my time comes, the last thing I'll think is how much I love her.

I'll try to honor her request, but really, I don't want to live without her, and selfishly, I'd prefer to die first.

It's not really under my control, this outcome.

[Srkdqltr]

1. Well....... i completely understand. ... hugs and best to you both.

[LoisB]

2. How sweet. Congratulations to you both for finding each other.

[blm]

3. Heheh. The words to Cherish were added to the first love letter

I ever received. 7th grade. You picked a good one, NNadir. ☺️

[TexLaProgressive]

4. You both married up.

Congratulations and do more than keep your promise

[erronis]

15. That's a great line.

I think all of mine were in the other direction (for all the parties.

[Tanuki]

5. We want you both to be healthy and happy

for many, many years to come, dear NNadir! You are a wonderful human being, scientist, and friend, and you truly make this world a better place. I am so glad you found your soul mate so many years ago. You obviously live out what it means to cherish each other.
😊🥂💐

[democrank]

6. What lovely words.....

Hold on to one another and cherish every day.

[JMCKUSICK]

7. Thank you so much for donating such humanity to all of us

With this post NNadir.

It's a love story worth many more. You know you're going to outlive her. For her sake, I hope you do.
God Speed

[niyad]

8. In a just world, you would die in each other's arms, passing peacefully

in your sleep, in maybe 25 years or so. I wish you and your lovely wife all the best.
And thank you for that lovely tribute to her.

[ColoringFool]

9. From The "I Didn't Plan To Cry" Dept: This Widow Wishes You....

Both many more years together❣

[Figarosmom]

10. That's so wonderful when you get to live

In love💘💕

[Intractable]

11. I've warned my wife that I want to go first. "If you go first, I'll have you stuffed."

I tell her all the time, "I can't live without you."

[Ford_Prefect]

12. The best reason of all! Hang in there, buddy.

[3catwoman3]

13. "...and she's so damned sweet..."

You seem pretty damned sweet yourself.

What woman would not cherish knowing this is how her man feels about her. Well done, sir.

[mgardener]

14. I love that song!

Have been with Joe for 49 years.
Can't imagine life without him!

[UTUSN]

16. The sweetness is overwhelming on both

[HeartsCanHope]

17. I've told my husband that I get to go first.

I love him more than life itself, so I completely understand where your wife is coming from.

Healing vibes to you and may you both be together for many, many years to come.

[Cha]

18. What a Sweet Wonderful Love Story..

I wish you both long healthy lives, NNadir. ☮️🌻🕯️🕊️💜

[LuckyCharms]

19. This warms my heart.

And if you die before me, I'll punch YOU in the eye (an inside joke between us).

You're a good man.

[NNadir]

23. In that state, punch away at both eyes. I won't notice. (Actually...

...when I kick off, I want my wife to donate the vitreous fluid as a bioanalytical blank for eye drugs, so there won't be too much eye to punch.

In my last dying breath, I'll tell her, get that vitreous fluid out before Lucky gets here.

[BurnDoubt]

33. I take comfort in knowing I'm not alone.

We all have our little issues and struggles here in the Bonus Round. And it helps to feel the Love that still beats in so many Hearts.
In all the bad decisions and mis-cues in my Seventy-Five trips around the sun, meeting my Zaharula (The Gypsy Girl) is by far the best thing to happen to an undeserving young punk. The first Kiss every morning is the start of the Day, and that is the best reason to make it last. I cling to that.
We saw Jack Gallagher at our B St. Theatre here in Sacramento on Sunday as he presented his “Irish Goodbye” as his farewell to the city he has called home for nearly forty years and returning to his roots in Cape Cod. I was in tears for much of his show, and here I am again today feeling Philosophical. I wish you all a Great Life, and a Gentle Moment when it comes, bathed in Love.
I was a lurker here at DU for twenty-plus years and finally signed in, though not yet a Star Member as I’m a “Retired to Penury” kind of guy.
Wishing you all well, Peggy, Lucky, and KC and all the rest of you. Thanks to you all for being here day after day.
Love ‘em if ya got ‘em. Stay with it.

[NNadir]

34. Thanks. n/t.

[multigraincracker]

20. Same here. I'm in my mid 70s.

She’s 12 years younger than me. I’m shooting for another 6 or 8. I only have one family member and he’s 5 years older. She has tons of relatives that i have adopted and they have adopted me. I married into a great family.
Can’t worry about what I can’t control. That would cause too much anxiety.
Figure I’m the luckiest person in the world. Half of it is good luck and the other half bad luck it all equals out.

[jlshaw47]

21. One day at a time...

One day at a time, let’s us get through tomorrow…🙏🏼

[Turbineguy]

22. Here's to the Wives we've loved for many years!

[malaise]

24. Do the best you can given your health problems

Love is good.

[bdamomma]

25. How sweet

is right. All the best to you both.

[walkingman]

26. I want to outlive my wife so I can care for her...if I can. Our 48th anniversary is in May.

Not sure if I will be able to since I have already had two kinds of cancer. Ironically, she has no major health issues but has lost some mobility. The time passes so fast....☮

[hamsterjill]

27. Awe, this brought tears to my eyes.

It's people like the two of you who inspire me to know that love still exists in this world. I hope you BOTH have more years than you can count.

[zanana1]

28. This is what everyone wants.

To have a lifetime with someone. Very few of us achieve that. Congratulations.

[Marthe48]

29. We make the best choices we can

so we live long, healthy lives.

After my husband passed away, I knew I needed some long terms goals I would do my utmost to meet. I'm the only surviving grandparent and told my grandchildren right after my husband passed, that I would do my best to be here to see them graduate from high school. There was a short pause and my then 5 yr. old grand daughter said, "What about college?"

Love those kids!

[seta1950]

30. How sweet

Like a romance novel🥰

[Joinfortmill]

31. Love this!

[BaronChocula]

32. ...