Wednesday, September 1, 2010

Old Postcard Wednesday--Bridal Veil Falls, Columbia River Gorge, Oregon



Beautiful Bridal Veil Falls is an elegant and graceful lady that can be fully appreciated from the deck of a viewing platform rebuilt in 1996. The creek hustles down from the top of nearby Larch Mountain, tumbles over the cliff and eventually flows into the mighty Columbia River. No visit to the Columbia Gorge should be considered complete without a tour of the area of Bridal Veil and a visit to Bridal Veil Falls State Park.
     ~ excerpt from Bridal Veil Falls State Scenic Viewpoint, where you can find out about the hiking trails at the falls


Today is our 15th wedding anniversary. Since it landed on Old Postcard Wednesday I wondered if I might possibly have a postcard that would be in any way fitting for the occasion. Thanks to my grandmother I do.....

..... I do. Those are the simple words, with some variations, common in the marriage ceremony that I have promised to two men, and they to me. At neither ceremony was I wearing a bridal veil, or even white for that matter. The first time I was in a hippie gown of dusty rose. Twenty years later I wore a soft city dress in shades of teal. This is a shot Michael took of me at The Cloisters in upper Manhattan after our civil ceremony downtown.




We were about to embark on a first year of marriage that was more difficult than I could ever have imagined being possible. With my mother's pitiful track record of four marriages set before me and my own apathy for the institution in general I still find it remarkable that I didn't throw in the towel. My mother, the woman who could not keep a marriage herself, proved to be a stalwart friend and non-judgmental support for each of us in the face of extreme trials during those twelve months. She had the street smart credentials, and another woman, a psychotherapist suggested by our family doctor, had the professional credentials that combined to pull us through the muck.

First year muck long behind us, Michael views 15 years as half-way to 30 years. I hear him say that and think wow...how? One day at a time, I do realize that. But right now contemplating 15 is a full experience for me and important enough to warrant its own day in the sun before looking into the future.

:::


About = The Cloisters Museum & Gardens
My post last year = 14th wedding anniversary.....Ta-da* 


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17 comments:

Anonymous said...

Congratulations - hubby is absolutely right 15 is halfway to 30!

Lovely photograph of you

Fireblossom said...

I love the idea of Old Postcard Wednesday. May I play too?

You made a beautiful bride, Lydia. That's a marvelous shot. Congratulations to you both, for overcoming a difficult first year, and finding happiness together. Good for you!

I was married for 13 years and have been divorced for nine...I don't expect another go-round. But I love hearing about stories like yours. :-)

Kim said...

CONGRATS on 15 years!!! That's huge! The photograph of you is gorgeous.

francessa said...

Oh, Lydia, that's a big day then! Congratulations! Wish you two all the luck for the years to come!

Beautiful fall! Interestingly, at the area I come from we call them veils.

Looking to the Stars said...

I love the photo of you, beautiful!
Congrats, on your 15 years! Me & mine are celebrating our anniversary on the 25th of this month.

I like your hubby's thinking, 15 is half way to 30 :)

Congrats again, may all the wishes you hold in your hands come true :)

Lydia said...

madamebutterfly~ Thank you for your good wishes!

Fireblossom~ Absolutely, let's make it an Old Postcard Wednesday club of two!
I doubted I'd remarry after the first time and was single for 15 years before meeting Michael.
Thank you for your kind comments.

Kim~ It seems huge to me, most definitely. But we are keeping it really low-key, as Michael is conducting a class at work tomorrow so needed to be in the office today to prepare. I'm meeting him for dinner; still need to decide on the restaurant. :)

francessa~ Thank you for your good wishes that included luck. I think marriages need a goodly portion of luck and an even "goodlier" portion of work.
I love that your part of the world actually calls falls by the lovely word veils. Fascinating tidbit of info!

Looking to the Stars~ Many thanks for your sweet comments, and an early congratulations to you on your upcoming anniversary.

pohanginapete said...

Congratulations, Lydia. Wishing you less need for both luck and work — but plenty of luck anyway :^)

I agree with the others about the photo — beautiful.

Lydia said...

pohanginapete~ Thank you. That is a valid point you made about the need for . . . I admit I have given it much thought since reading it. Thanks again.

La Belette Rouge said...

Yikes! I KNOW I left a comment yesterday and yet now it isn't here. I hate when that happens.
I too found the first year to be HARD. It is what got me back into therapy and is ultimately what led me to being a therapist. We are 18 years in and going strong.
Congrats on 15. It is a BIG achievement.
p.s. You look like a Greek Goddess in that picture. Me thinks, Aphrodite!
xoxo

Nancy said...

Love the falls - and the fact there is a post office there to mail wedding invitations.

Happy anniversary!

Rhiannon said...

My congratulations to you and your husband for making it through for so long....it's a good sign it will last. I hope so. Your so lucky Lydia.
I hope you two are happy and can communicate well.

I was married for 15 years but the last year was the downfall and the last year it was like some kind of bizarre nightmare. So if you can ride through the 15th it's probably all good from here on in for you two...at least it's my sincerest wish for the both of you!

I must truly and honestly admit that I miss being married and that special feeling of knowing your loved and "safe"..and "connected"..emotionally and physically. And also that you can "trust".,be there for each other.

My former BF of late and I broke it off...almost a year it was...wow..it was my decision..after the way he started treating me and during my move all my women friends here witnessed how he had started treating me and they said "we don't like the way he treats you what is wrong with him"?...their words only echoed what I had been feeling in my "intuitive gut" of late...if he were to ever apologize or own up to anything whatsoever and able to be "brave" enough to face his fears, or contact me on his own and want to talk I would be just stunned...isn't going to happen. Alas most single men I've met since my divorce are (and I am sorry to say this but it's been my experience) have been incredibly selfish jerks and full of themselves and are just interested in one thing...and never willing to own up to anything in how they treat you...when I speak up kindly I'm in "trouble"..so be it!..really sorry to say but it is true..I still don't get why I am where I am and how my life has turned out but I think I know now it's best to be on my own and stay away from all their crap and hurt..the wounds are just too deep and it's time to just "accept" that I will not let myself be treated bad like some women are willing to in order to not be alone...oops!..I'm sorry dear Lydia I'm being a bummer right now. Nice to know I am getting my real sister back these days and I finally have one family connection. It helps a lot...so far. I do think younger men are better for women of our age..they treat us better...strange hey? My ex was younger than I also.

Congratulations my dear..it does sound like you and your husband have a good "real" "trusting" relationship and deep friendship which is the most important.

Love ya and Happy Anniversary!

Rhi

Rhiannon said...

P.S. the photo of you your hubby took is beautiful...

Lydia said...

Belette Rouge~ Thank you.
Sorry your previous comment was a no-show (I hate when that happens too). Thank you so much for your comments. I'm fascinated to know that you also had a difficult first year of marriage. I'm glad it ultimately led you to become a therapist because I know you are going to help so many people. xo

Rhi~ Oh my, the curse of the 15-year-mark! Since you loved being married it is truly tragic that it went south on you after 15 years. I wonder if you had had Belette Rouge (above) to talk with at that time if the outcome might have been different.
What you wrote reminded me of something my mother said, "I just do better alone." She was being realistic, but that is not to say that she didn't long for the companionship of a loving man.
Thanks for your anniv. wishes.

Hattie said...

Congratulations! And I love that pic of you at The Cloisters. I never got there but loved a recording of The Play of Daniel that I used to have that was made there.

Lydia said...

Hattie~ Many thanks.
I am not familiar with that work and must remember to google it.

bfk said...

Ah, fifteen years? You're just getting started! And thirty is only half way to sixty. Michael's right, you're still wet behind the ears.

(PS I enjoyed your hair-dos in the post above as well.)

Lydia said...

bfk~ And 60 is less than half-way to death us do part.

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