36th Anniversary

Yes. It was 36 years ago today (Aug.28th, 1971) that I
Cecilia Lujan became Mrs. John Muñoz at 3:00 pm, at
St. Ann's Church in Colorado City, Texas.

Can't believe it's been that long. Marriage is the most wonderful
union, (that is if you have met the right person), in which
case I feel that I did.

I was lying in bed last night thinking. It's funny how things change
the longer you stay married. The first anniversay, you give each
other jewelry, small diamonds, watches, etc. . A couple of years
later, the gifts go down to the exchanging of clothes for one another,
colognes; oh, you know, stuff like that.
After the tenth anniversary, we go way down to maybe, work clothes,
work shoes for him. Oh my gosh!, I just remembered that was
the year I received bed sheets! Yeah, and I'm not talking ordinary
bed sheets either. 280 count bed sheets!!!!!!!!!!! How do ya like that?
I thought, "shit!, was this a gift or what?" Bet, none of my friends have
never gotten something so special.

Ok. Let's keep going here. Let's go for the fifteenth anniversary.
You start receiving stuff like, hair dryers, curling irons, (really large
cosmetic trays). Alright. I'm getting the message here. It's like
telling someone, 'hey, you really must do something about your appearance.'

Twenty-five years later. Oh Boy!, here come the (whole set) not two or three
pieces, but maybe eight or ten piece set of pots and pans, give or
take a lid or two. What's really weird is you think, "shit, this is really
getting good." Funny how your mind works. You still can't see the picture.
YOU IDIOT! YOU'RE LOVING THE HELL OUT OF THIS STUFF!.

The years go by. You keep receiving these odd gifts, but you still don't
see it. That's because you're still so much in love with the person that
knows exactly what you need and want.
Let's see here. Oh, yeah, there was the year he had to work the evening
shift, so we were not able to go out and eat. Hey, that's still ok. That's
the year I took out a frozen Chinese Stir Fry dinner, and coated some
strawberries in white chocolate. He, on the other hand drove 30 miles
to get me a bouquet of yellow roses (my favorite). He got off the car
with flowers wrapped in clear cellophane paper in one hand and a
blue vase with white polka dots on the other hand. (Had nightmares
over that vase for years, till I sold it this year at a garage sale).
He quickly filled the vase with tap water, dropped the roses just as they
were, and opened the back window close to where the car was parked
and slipped a CD in the cd player and turned the volume up full blast with,
"VOLVER, VOLVER". All this time, I'm sitting at the dining table watching
him work all this shit out like a little ant. Gotta remember, he's got all this
planned out just perfect.
So, with music going full blast, he rushes in (almost out of breath) and hands
me the flowers (polka dot blue vase, remember?). I later found out he'd
purchased the vase at Dollar General when I went to rinse out the water
and add fresh water.!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Ok, so with the same soft voice as all the previous years, he says, "Happy
Anniversary Honey, I Love You So Much." I'm sure you gals out there
are just so very jealous by now.
Up to this very day, I can't figure out why John Muñoz never used the
stereo system we had indoors! Sure could have saved all the going up and
down, in and out, and especially all the sweating.

Wait, I'm not done yet. Last night he had to work from 6pm-6am.
He walks in this morning with a bacon and egg burrito and a cup of
freshly brewed decaf coffee. HOW'S THAT FOR A 36th ANNIVERSARY?