The Starting Line. It’s where the participants hang out. Race will begin soon. Nervousness, anxiety, excitement and jitters abound. A.K.A. butterflies. No issues with the weather, thankfully. Lots of practice and preparation have taken place prior to this big event. The starter arrives and the crowd quiets. All eyes and ears now focused on the Starting Line.
“On your mark”………”Get set”……….”I DO!” And they’re off. Two tiny words PROPEL the exhilarated duo out of the starting blocks and into the biggest, most difficult, yet most exciting & potentially rewarding, RACE of their lives! Euphoria hastens their first steps together down the aisle. Broad smiles on their faces and joy in their hearts, Mr. and Mrs. skip off toward the future. Hand-in-hand, buoyed by the butterflies, their FIRST lap is underway.
They had trained for this day. Practiced diligently. Looked forward in EARNEST to make their way to the Starting Line. Their hearts had collided LONG ago and had not broken nor fallen. They remained intact. They yearned to have them UNITED which led them to the Starting Line.
Ceremony concluded, it’s party time! Let the celebration begin…and it does. Food, drink, dancing and dessert. It’s AWESOME! “Marry-ment” and festivity take place for hours, accompanied by spirited frivolity. When the dining & dancing are done and the cake-cutting complete……after the speeches have been spoken and toasts simultaneously raised……garter & bouquet successfully tossed & seized, and all the pics have been snapped…..the party winds down. Eventually the music stops, guests and family depart, lights are dimmed and the happy couple is chauffeured off toward their honeymoon destination.
Hopes, dreams & promises lie ahead. The Starting Line is in the rear view. The relationship rubber NOW meets the road. Soon enough, the Starting Line fades from view. The fanfare, hoopla and excitement of this special day also fade, replaced by the stark REALITY of the race.
Marriage….a race of incredible endurance. Ideally, the successful journey will be a marathon, although it always starts off as a sprint. Having arrived at the Starting Line as two, they now run as one. ONE team. ONE another. ONE love.
With every long distance race there will be both good and bad laps. Health & strength, aches and pains. Ebbs and flows. When bursts of energy come, laps are easily run. When energy is sapped, laps may be a struggle and the urge may rise to quit. Continuing to race together can be a challenge. It also is a choice. Sacrifice & selflessness. Commitment & consistency. Tireless tenacity. Discipline & dedication. Powerful words that connote a top-notch runner. Necessary words for a first-rate relationship.
The running continues and one day turns into another, and then another. With each stride, the days, weeks and months FLY by. One day…up ahead something DELIGHTFULLY familiar. What is it? It’s slowly coming into view. Hey! There it is……the Starting Line! That’s where family and friends initially saw them off. Anticipation, smiles and excitement as reminiscing abounds. First lap completed! A.K.A. Anniversary. One year in the books. One year old cake. Pictures perused, video viewed. Dinner and a movie or a weekend getaway. A toast of champagne. Commemoration of the celebration.
Whether smooth path, rocky road, new track or muddy trail…..taking it one stride at a time, running side-by-side, in sunny or inclement weather…the runners persevered. In so doing, they got to RE-VISIT the Starting Line! When the celebrated evening gives way to morning, the sophomore striders take off, once again leaving the Starting Line behind. Lap number two begins!