February 23, 2014 … to love and to cherish from this day forward.
On that snowy day 10 years ago, I walked down the aisle as the organ played Pachelbel’s Canon in D to promise to love Chuck Leonard.
Some three hundred of our closest family and friends had nothing better to do on a Sunday afternoon than to catch a glimpse of vintage love. Oh, the sweetness and schmaltz of vintage love.
I’m not an expert on love, but in my vintageness, I have learned a thing or two.
Love is patient. Love is kind. 1 Corinthians 13:4
Age-old, simple truths that get lost in the busy days. Love doesn’t change, but how we look at it does.
When we are young, we have a mindset of how love should look and be. The expectations are great. When expectations are not met, we become disappointed, frustrated, and resentful.
As we get older, we see that love isn’t about what we expect it to be … but what we ALLOW it to be. We love the person for who they are, not what they can do for us.
Expectations not being met can cause love to rust. Did you know that one of the definitions of “rust” is an injurious influence? Hello, society! Society casts love as this glorious union of two hearts that should know how to love each other. Society struggles with kindness and patience is almost nonexistent. And we look to it to define love?
Not having our expectations met corrodes the love we have for someone, and they lose their value. We lose that “loving feeling” and turn away from the one we once loved. Prince Charming looks more like the Tin Man when rust corrodes our love. Cinderella loses more than her shoe; she loses her happily ever after.
Photo provided
If you watch vintage people who are in love, you will notice they are not selfish. They do not demand their way. It’s as if they make a daily decision to love the other person unselfishly. It is through a kindness filter that they sift their love.
Being married for a long time does not guarantee two people love each other. Being miserable can become a way of life. What a sad way to live. Don’t get me started on those who “demand” someone to love them the way they expect.
Romance is often defined by imaginary characters who don’t know what reality is like. We see the swooning. We hear the music. We watch the characters gaze into each other’s eyes.
Did you know that one of the definitions of “romance” is an extravagant story that lacks basis in facts? Hello, reality!
Love rearranges the dishwasher after it is loaded. Love untangles the seatbelt that is constantly being tangled when someone drives his car. Love drinks black coffee so that someone will have the last of the sweet cream for theirs. Love buys a little heater to heat the bathroom so someone will be warmer when she takes her bath.
Simple acts of love speak volumes. Those simple acts write quite a love story.
Love has a lot of looks that are not what romantic movies portray.
Love isn’t complicated when it comes from a kind and patient heart.
The love that Chuck and I pledged to one another 10 years ago is still there. It’s schmaltzy and ever-so-slathered upon each other. We don’t take our love for granted. We don’t take our days together for granted.
As we walked up the aisle together all those years ago, Chuck and I had no idea what we would face in the future. One thing we did know was that we would face it together with our schmaltzy kind of love.
Our vintage love would never fail.
Happy 10th Anniversary, Chuck Leonard!
Janet Hart Leonard can be contacted at janethartleonard@gmail.com or followed on Facebook or Instagram (@janethartleonard). Visit janethartleonard.com.