Tuesday, July 10, 2007

Wedding Anniversary

Well, I'm three days early on this but my poor husband is going to be alone on our 27th anniversary and I wanted to get this posted anyway. On July 13th we are celebrating our 27th wedding anniversary but I will be in the States, and he will be here in Japan. This happens almost every year so I guess we didn't plan well when we set the wedding date (which by the way we chose because his summer bonus came in so it was the only way we could afford a wedding!)

I wrote a couple of months ago about how Tetsu and I met and first communicated. We dated about 2 and a half years before we got married. Many of the people around us probably didn't think this was such a good idea. Tetsu wasn't interested in learning English and although my Japanese had improved it was far from perfect. Interestingly our families gave us their blessings. My family figured when I went to Japan at age 22 that it was likely I'd marry a Japanese, and Tetsu's mother, though surprised that he'd found a foreigner in the out-of-the-way city where we met, made me feel welcome. So we planned our wedding.

Tetsu himself wanted to wear kimono for the wedding but I was not about to get dressed up in the traditional garb with the heavy white make-up and wig. I wanted to wear a wedding gown. Ok. How about half and half? We agreed that we'd do it both ways.

First the wedding dress. Normally Japanese brides will rent their wedding finery, both dress and kimono but I wanted mine to be my very own so I decided to sew it myself. My mother sent me wedding dress patterns and lace samples and with the help of friends I sewed the dress. Ok. No problem there.

For the kimono though I was at a loss. Then a ladies' English class I was teaching came together and offered to plan my Japanese wedding outfit. One lady brought the kimono she had worn to her wedding. It had been hand painted by her father-in-law, a famous artist. Another lady brought an obi (the wide belt). One lady supplied the embroidered collar, another the footwear. And finally, one lady who had studied kimono offered to dress me on the big day.

So here you have it, Tetsu and me nearly 30 years ago. I keep the pictures displayed on a dresser but Tetsu says we ought to put them away, we look nothing like we did then!

I think, even though Tetsu and I have battled with a language barrier, that we communicate better than many Japanese couples. As he gets older he is more free with kisses and hand holding and I tease him and make him laugh. We are not gushy nor romantic and probably could use a little spice in our marriage but I see us growing old together sedately and happily. We take time out to tell each other about our day and consult each other about problems and decisions. I trust him with everything and he tells me that I'm the only place he feels comfortable.

Happy Anniversary to us!

22 comments:

anne bebbington said...

There's a huge amount to be said for both 'growing old together sedately and happily' and 'taking time out to tell each other about our day and consult each other about problems and decisions'

Congratulations to you both - you looked so beautiful in both your outfits and still look as happy together in recent photos

Here's to many more years for the both of you (((hugs)))

Nancy said...

Happy anniversary indeed! You look lovely in your pictures. The concept of real FRIENDSHIP in a marriage is often overlooked which I think contributes to the high divorce rate in the states. Someday please write a bit about marriage and divorce in general in Japan. And congratulations to you both!

dee said...

Happy Anniversary to you! My husband & I were very good friends for years before we began to see each other in a different and sweeter light. I'm happy and peaceful and we are enjoying growing old together. It's very nice to see your wedding pictures. I hope you have a great trip. I so enjoy reading about Japanese customs-thank you for taking the time to do it.

Lucy Locket said...

Hi Tanya, you both look absolutely lovely in those photos - what a lovely idea to get dressed both ways. To be told you are the only place your husband feels comfortable must surely be the biggest compliment you could ever have - congratulations! Lucy

Connie said...

What wonderful wedding plans...a combination of both traditions. You both look so handsome in both photos and make a great couple. Congrats to you on these many years of happy marriage and wishes for many, many more to come. God bless & keep you both safely during the summer days apart while you are traveling. Best wishes!

JudyL said...

Happy Anniversary. You were a beautiful bride and you're still a beautiful wife. A little spice is always nice but it's so nice to hear of couples of have been married for years and still enjoy each other's company and feel comfortable trusting their mate.

Congratulations!

Elaine Adair said...

What a lovely story - thank you. BOTH the photos are wonderful - how nice that you did it both ways.

Lazy Gal Tonya said...

congratulations to you both. you are a lovely couple (in more than one way!). what a gorgeous kimono - very sweet ladies to help you out.

Shelina said...

Happy Anniversary Tanya. What lovely pictures - you two do make a lovely couple. I hope you continue to talk about your marriage and your tips for a successful marriage. In my world there aren't a lot of happily married couples, so this is all unfamiliar territory for me!

Shelina said...

So what language do you use to speak to each other?

Mary said...

Happy Anniversay! I admire the courage it must have taken you both to marry with the language and cultural differences. Marriage is hard work even without those.

Keith travels so much that its not unusual for him to be gone on ours but we try to plan at least a weekend trip together in April to celebrate. This year we had a our trip to Hawaii.

Françoise said...

Happy anniversary!!
Lovely pictures. I love the kimono one.
We are going to celebrate our 27th wedding anniversary this month too!

Ulla said...

I wish you from the bottom of my heart many happy years more.You take care of you in a good manner.
Congratulations and have a nice trip
Ulla in the north of Sweden

teodo said...

Dear Tanya,
Happy Anniversary.
Wonderful these pictures and wonderful You and Tetsu.
ciao ciao

Bellydancingknitter said...

Two beautiful portraits!

We want to dye yarn, and the swift is a way of making a skein so we can dye it using different colors.

Helen said...

Thank you for these lovely pictures. Congratulations on your wedding anniversary.

meggie said...

Happy Anniversary Tanya & Tetsu!
It is our wedding anniversary too! We will have been married 41 years, this year.
I love those beautiful photos of you both. I say keep them on display, they are lovely.

Mrs. Goodneedle said...

Congratulations! Safe travels to you Tanya, and warm wishes for many more anniversaries to come! You've defined what a good, solid marriage is; you've lived it every day for the last 27 years!

rumi said...

Happy anniversary, Tanya and Tetsu-san! I think being able to trust each other is the most important part. And how sweet of Tetsu-san to say that you are the only place he feels comfortable! ごちそうさまです! You two are really the best couple!!!
Have a safe trip and a great summer vacation!

rumi said...

Happy anniversary, Tanya and Tetsu-san! I think being able to trust each other is the most important part. And how sweet of Tetsu-san to say that you are the only place he feels comfortable! ごちそうさまです! You two are really the best couple!!!
Have a safe trip and a great summer vacation!

Susan said...

The wedding pictures are beautiful, both of them. What wonderful memories. Your last paragraph matches the beauty of the pictures. =)

atet said...

You are a beautiful bride -- and your husband's comment about you being the only place he feels comfortable is the best testament to marriage I have heard in a long, long time. Congrats!