I think we all just did what we had to do, and you were fortunate too, that it just worked out, like mine and Jim's did..............Of course it was no bed of roses many times.  Overworked, stressed, trying to make ends meet, those were difficult times, but it just seemed we had each other, the kids and our health was good, so we counted our blessings, and still do.....................Jim and I will be married 49 years also, Nove. 3.....................Jenny Ann's is the same as ours, except I think it is in October, If I have it right...................I never get dates right !  lol.    Sam..... Sam, Don & I are a lot like you & Jim seem to be. When Don was at work I did all of the lawn care except for the terrace & I wouldn't get near it.  That & taking care of the cactus was all of the outside work he had to do. Now it is reversed, it all falls on him. We have had a good marriage but not all a bed of roses.   We will be married 49 yrs. come Nov., 18, 2009.  Marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sam Loudermilk" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:02 PM Subject: Re: [DOWN-HOME-CHATTER] Sam > > Shirley H. I think I am very lucky. Jim and I were both very busy in the > early part of our marriage. Still in school, we were trying to build > careers, raise a family, work, and whoever got home first just pitched in > and did what had to be done. I planned the menu for the week. Everything > for dinner was ready to heat when one of us got home................made > things much easier. We helped each other with everything. EXCEPT YARD > WORK. Jim would do the laundry, clean house on saturdays if we were lucky > enough to both be off. I then, did the yards. I didn't care because I > loved it outside..........Jim got really good about the house > cleaning.................Now, both retired, we still switch > off..........or we help each other..................We never agree on the > yards, so he lets me be, and only lends help when I need him with > something heavy...He keeps lawn equipment in good running order > also.......................it > seems to work pretty well. Jim is the calming side for me, and I guess I > am his strength when he needs it..............we are very blessed to still > be as close as we are. Ups and downs are in all of our journeys through > life, but for us, we have usually gotten along pretty > well....................after saying this, hope we don't have a battle > tonight . lol.................................sam ------------------------------- To unsubscribe from the list, please send an email to [email protected] with the word 'unsubscribe' without the quotes in the subject and the body of the message