16

"Sensual pleasures have the fleeting brilliance of a comet. A happy marriage, has the tranquility of a lovely sunset."

-Ann Landers

Alan and I have been married 16 years today! As long as I live, I will never understand what a man such as Alan sees in me. He is strong, loving, funny, hard working, talented, handsome, and he can do math. LOL. What could he possibly see in me?

Yesterday, as we left one of our favorite restaurants, we overheard an older couple of about 75, as they got into their car. The wife was impatiently yelling all kinds of disparaging things to her husband. Mean things. The older gentleman simply took his wife's abuse, as she yelled at him even louder. Finally, the two got into their expensive, well-made foreign car, and drove away. The wife, however, could still be heard, yelling at the man, who sat with his head in his hands.

As the couple drove away, Alan stopped walking to the car, and turned to me. "Carly, give me a hug." I looked up into his eyes, and saw love looking back at me. "Thank you, for never treating me that way, and for letting me know over the last 16 years that you never will." Sigh. "It's easy to not treat you that way," I said. "I love you too much to ever behave that way toward you." And then we kissed.

We have sensual pleasures that burn like a comet, and we have the tranquility of a marriage enjoyed, but I will never, as long as I live, understand what he sees in me. But as I stood on the cliffs at San Simeon, and gazing at this sunset, I realized while taking this photo, that maybe I don't have to understand what he feels for me, I only have to enjoy it, and watch it burn bright.

Happy Anniversary Alan
-OndineMonet
"Passionate Night"
The Cliffs Below Hearst Castle
San Simeon, California
October 12th, 2006
Evening