On the day of October 5th, 1946 Laurence Addison and Nelly Paulette became Mr. and Mrs. Leonard in Paris, France at ages 19 and 21, respectively. On October 5th of 2016, they will be celebrating 70 years--not simply of marriage--but of steady, unyielding, and tireless love.
In recognition of that day, this is my open letter of thanks, not only for the nearly 23 years of love you’ve given me, but the 70 years that you’ve given the world.
From every ounce of my being, thank you.
Thank you for showing me that love knows no bounds.
You both sacrificed so much to be together. To my grandpa, my dear Pepe, you had to get married in a foreign country with none of your family present--and bring home a woman that your family neither knew, nor initially approved of. My grandma, my darling Meme, you had to give up your family, your home, and your country to follow Pepe, and to follow love. Through any time when things were sparse--hope, money, prospects--there was always one thing that was in abundance, and that was love.
Thank you for being there for me, from day one.
To Meme, thank you for showing me unconditional love from the moment I was born. Rather than bear the thought of waiting to meet me, you rushed to the hospital to see me, before my father had even had the chance to hold me in his arms. Thank you for being there from day one to sing me to sleep with your french lullabies, that I hope to one day sing to my own children and grandchildren. From the very beginning, you’ve been my perpetual pillar of support.
Thank you for showing me the importance of the small things.
Thank you for the multitude of walks (and subsequent naps) that we could share, the hundreds of games you supported me at from the back-aching bleachers, and the thousands of rides you gave me to and from school. Thank you for teaching me how to cook, the vital importance of hard work and determination, and the endless mornings sharing coffee and pastries. Some kids barely get one set of parents, and I got lucky enough to have you as a pseudo-second set.
Thank you for proving to me that there is so much good in the world.
I have never met two people more willing to open their hearts to anyone who walks into their life. Never has a person left your home with a mouth unfed, a body unembraced, or a life untouched. You see the light in everyone,and reflect that back tenfold, and I find myself constantly amazed at the true and genuine goodness that you bring to the world. Thank you for being my perpetual model of the beauty that life holds.
Thank you for showing me what “through sickness and in health” truly means.
Through illnesses, broken bones, hospital visits, and more than one set of cancer, you’ve shown me how love is stronger than any ailment. I’ve watched you both lean on, and take care of each other, in a stunned admiration. When one of you faltered, you gave strength to the other, acting as a shelter through the storm. Nothing can conquer, damage, or destroy what your love has built.
Thank you for being my example of hope through divorce.
Many children witness the divorce of their parents, but not many have an example of hope and unconditional love like you’ve given me. When I could have become cynical, bitter, or dejected, you instead enveloped me in a constant blanket of love. I don’t always know how to love, and without you, I may have never known what true, unwavering love looks like--but you’ve given me an example that, to my heart, is the most precious gift you could have ever bestowed me with. You are my constant, shining beacon of hope.
Thank you, thank you for shaping me into the person I am today.
In the world of great, undying love stories written by Shakespeare, Austen, Bronte, and Tolstoy, yours by far is my favorite. Thank you for writing me into the pages of your story. Thank you for showing me how beautiful life can be. Thank you for giving the world 70 years together.
