Crystal Chandeliers

                                              The crystal chandeliers light up

                                               the paintings on their wall

                                              The music carried them away

                                               forty three years ago, I recall

                                               A young woman turned eighteen

                                               living out her childhood dream

                                               Her soldier finally home from war

                                               made her feel like a beautiful queen

                                               With a marriage proposal in hand

                                                written with paper and pen

                                               Two hearts joined together as one

                                               that beautiful day of October ten

                                               The marble statuettes still stand

                                               so grand and stately in the hall

                                               Fresh as the dawn, promises made

                                               forty three years ago, I recall

                                               Old yet young as the heart will allow

                                               the music still carries them away

                                               In their hearts there's still a song

                                               for that beautiful October day

                                               Hand and hand they walk together

                                               since the day that love came to call

                                               And the new will never wear off 

                                               of the crystal chandeliers at all

                                               © Susie Swanson, 2013

The above picture is a letter that contains my marriage proposal forty three years ago. It's postmarked on September 9th, 1970. I received it two days later. If you look close you can see the postage stamp was only 6 cents then and because he sent it in an air mail envelope, postage became 10 cents. Guess who paid the other 4 cents... He had just returned from Vietnam and was use to mailing them out air mail. That became the best 4 cents I've ever had to spend. Even the penny candy from the store and me having to save my money to buy it didn't mean as much as this letter... 

We started dating on August 22nd 1970 , got married on October 10th, 1970. I became an Army wife and oh did my life change. Here we are today forty three years later, have one son and three grandchildren and one great grandson. We have been blessed beyond measure.

The letter is now old and faded, the address has now changed. I still take it out and read it every chance I get and while I'm reading it I listen to our all time favorite song Crystal Chandeliers by Charley Pride. We listened to it on a 8 track tape in the car and an old record player And today, every time I hear it, it takes me back to that special place and time, when we stood before our family, friends and God and  made a promise  to love one another forever... Forever is not here yet!!

Happy Anniversary to my loving husband. Thank you for forty three great years. I love you more each passing day and Pray that hand and hand we walk together another forty three.. Love, Susie