farmdoc's blog post number 103

Marriage is a fragile and precarious institution in our society. Statistics show that perhaps 32% of Australian marriages end in divorce. I have written of David and Anthea’s wedding last Sunday; and also the 65-year marriage of David and Sweetheart Vivienne’s parents which due to their mother Lucy’s dementia has entered a new, unexpected and unwelcome phase, but which nevertheless is inspirational due to the unwavering devotion of their father Saul. But what of Sweetheart Vivienne’s and my marriage? I think it’s currently the strongest, deepest and most resilient it’s been in its 40 years. Starting over four years ago, we’ve had a fly-in fly-out relationship in which Sweetheart Vivienne lives in Melbourne, I live in Mole Creek, and for a few days each month we live together. This arrangement could’ve disintegrated our marriage. Indeed it’s done the opposite; a honeymoon each month has much to recommend it. Which isn’t to imply we don’t have our differences and arguments. Too right we do; it wouldn’t be a fair dinkum relationship if we didn’t. But to me they’re background music and not the main melody. I’d like to think that our relationship is setting a benchmark for those of our darling daughters and, who knows, our darling grandchildren too. If so, it’d be the most important thing I achieve in my whole life. Bar none.