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Main Forums => Living With HIV => Topic started by: RAB on July 14, 2006, 09:33:10 pm

Title: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: RAB on July 14, 2006, 09:33:10 pm: 19 YEARS!

Tomorrow (Saturday--July 15th) is our (damn fool and mine) anniversary.

July 15th, 1987, we met for the first time. I was wearing a blue blazer, color coordinated shirt and tie, and slacks. He was wearing a t-shirt and blue jeans. His hair was BIG and permed. He had a mustache. He was drop dead gorgeous. I knew instantly. There was no question, he was the one for me.

This morning, as he was giving me my Fuzeon injection, my eyes strayed into the bathroom mirror, where I saw our reflection. We've aged. It shows, there is no question. But what I saw in that reflection was the same man I saw 19 years ago tomorrow. Full dark head of hair. Classic handsome features. Tall and lean. With an ass to die for.

I'm not just lucky. I am truly blessed.

Life is good if you want to know the truth. Throughout those entire 19 years, my HIV/Aids, has been a part of our relationship (he was with me every step of the way, even when death was predicted to be coming in the next 12 - 18 months), but it hasn't been the definition of our relationship.

I'm not just lucky. I am truly blessed.

Tomorrow, we'll clean the bathroom, we'll mow the lawn, we'll fuss and fume at one another. Tomorrow evening we'll go to Ruth's Chris for a fantastic dinner. At some point, we'll raise our glasses and look in one another's eyes and without speaking we'll say. . . . .

I'm not just lucky. I am truly blessed.

RAB
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: jerry on July 14, 2006, 09:46:12 pm: Damn Rocky I was 16 years old and going into the 11th grade of high school. Time really flys by.
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: AlanBama on July 14, 2006, 09:46:17 pm: Congratulations honey, and happy anniversary! I can't think of anyone who deserves it more than you.

Love,

Alan
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Dachshund on July 14, 2006, 09:58:17 pm: Happy Anniversary you old softy!
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Lis on July 14, 2006, 10:03:56 pm: oh stop it you pussy!!! i got a year on ya!!!! LOL

those years are where they should be.. BEHIND us... we have done GOOD!!!
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: J.R.E. on July 14, 2006, 10:07:49 pm: Rocky,

CONGRATULATIONSOn 19 years together. Next week Ed and I will celebrate our 26th year together. 21 of those with my positive status.

And like you, I am not lucky, I am blessed also, to have this person in my life !! I couldn't have come this far, without him.

Happy Anniversary/ Have a great day !-----------Ray
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Teresa on July 14, 2006, 11:06:01 pm: Congratulations on your 19th anniversary!

Wishing you both many more years together!

Hugs
Teresa
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: MSPspud on July 14, 2006, 11:54:14 pm: Damn Rab, I was still a virgin 19 years ago ;)

Thank you for sharing this. At times I need to be reminded of the fruits a long termrelationship produces. This is one of those times for me.

Jason (who thinks Rab is pretty cool)
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: newt on July 15, 2006, 12:39:27 am: Well done blessed n lucky man, but I am intrigued, exactly how did you see his hot behind in the mirror...
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: jkinatl2 on July 15, 2006, 12:48:13 am: 19 years. Wow. I think I have some tee shirts that are 19 years old.
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Rasheen on July 15, 2006, 12:51:23 am: RAB,

Congratulations! Your post has truly touched my heart. Yes, you are blessed. You guys have a great time together at dinner.

~Rasheen :)
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Nadine on July 15, 2006, 07:28:05 am: Congratulatons Rocky, that is really something to celebrate! ;D

Happy Anniversary!
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Moffie65 on July 15, 2006, 07:46:54 am: Rocky,

This is truly good news, and thanks for sharing with such a touching post. Reflection is both fun and horrible, fun because you are seeing the good times that you have shared together over the last 19 years; and horrible when you focus on all the wrinkles and age marks that seem to populate our faces with time.

I am truly glad that you have had Mr. Right in your life for all this time, and I trust that you will also enjoy the next 19 with the same gusto that you have liveed the last 19.

In Love.
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Ann on July 15, 2006, 09:28:38 am: Aw, congratulations Rocky! Here's a big hug for you and Damn Fool too... {{{{{HUG!}}}}} I wish for you many more years to come, years chock to the brim with contented fussing and fuming. ;)

And yes, where did the time go. Yesterday morning I woke up and looked at the rainbow banner that hangs on the my bedroom window - and suddenly realised I've had that banner for twenty years now, since I was pregnant with my daughter. It seems like yesterday and the far off distant past at the same time.

Thanks for a post that made me come over all warm and fuzzy.

More hugs,
Ann
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: appleboy on July 15, 2006, 09:36:27 am: Congrats! I find your post quite heart warming. Makes me wanna tell Bush, and the relgious right hand you know what gay couples can have long lasting loving relationships too!
Blessing to many more years!
AppleBoy
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Andy Velez on July 15, 2006, 09:54:26 am: Rock on, Rocky. Hope you guys have a great 19th tomorrow! You're both very lucky guys -- and wise to let yourselves be happy.

Cheers,
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Lisa on July 15, 2006, 10:51:30 am: Congratulations Rocky! You must have something working in your favor for Damn Fool to have allowed you to live this long. ;)
I wish you both all the best, and hope that you are graced with another 19 years.
I would love to send you both a glass of wine to toast your wonderful life thus far, but we don't have those emoticons anymore.
Never the less, a toast to the both of you.

Kisses and hugs to you and Damn Fool !

Lisa
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Robert on July 15, 2006, 10:55:45 am: Congratulations Rocky.

Love is sharing the simple pleasures and joys of the world. Enjoy your day!~

robert
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Quarter Horse on July 15, 2006, 11:21:43 am: Congratulations Rocky!!

Brian
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: aztecan on July 15, 2006, 11:29:17 am: Hey Rocky,

Congratulations! You have made me feel all warm and fuzzy, and that ain't easy.

A toast to you and to your special guy. Celebrate your landmark.

Oh, and you are right, you are blessed.

HUGS,

Mark
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Jody on July 15, 2006, 02:54:16 pm: Who deserves happiness and goodness more than our Rocky? The way you described the way in which you just looked at him and were so thankful for all your time together and your future together was very tender and touching indeed...Have a wonderful dinner...Just don't let him try to fix ANYTHING before you leave for the restaurant !!!

Jody :D
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: bobik on July 16, 2006, 09:33:42 am: Dear Rocky and friend,

happy anniversary boys. My love and I are one year ahead of you, and I'll tell you: the longer it lasts, the better it gets! Good times to look forward to!

HUG

Coen
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: RAB on July 16, 2006, 09:48:19 am: Good Morning Everyone: ;D

Thank you to each and everyone who posted their congratulations! I made a point of sharing them with Damn Fool.

We had a wonderful dinner, (had to waddle out of the darn restaurant! >:( I said waddle not stagger! Though that wasn't too far off either. ::))

RAB

(Who has officially started year #20 with the best partner anyone could have!)
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Life on July 16, 2006, 11:18:43 am: What did you buy for "Dam Fool"!?!?!?!?!

Congradulations on making it through dinner! I was worried!

Love
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: manchesteruk on July 16, 2006, 12:04:28 pm: Rocky that post was very heart warming thanks for posting it. 19 years and still going strong congratulations!
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: ademas on July 16, 2006, 12:17:39 pm: damn if that didn't bring tears to my eyes first thing in the morning!

Congratulations, Rocky & DF!

19 years is a loooong time.

xox
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Cliff on July 16, 2006, 04:57:20 pm: Congratulations Rocky! Very nice post.

:)
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: libra11_dj on July 16, 2006, 11:20:27 pm: wow I was 12 y. o.....May God bless u guys.... Just share the key..Coz I guess more than one would love to have that answer...(me included)...Is anyone looking for a bf ?
xox.
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: fearless on July 17, 2006, 08:55:12 pm: You are indeed blessed Rocky
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Terry on July 17, 2006, 09:56:23 pm: Honestly, I feel a weekend is just about long enough for anyone to hang together. LOL! ???

But in this case DF and Rab get a special endurance award! Congratulations!

Terry (Who tossed in the towel after 26 years.) :'(
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: DingoBoi on July 17, 2006, 10:31:38 pm: not many people can bring a tear to my eye, but you have.

I'm rejuvenated knowing it's possible to be in a real, loving relationship.

Thank you rocky.
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: zephyr on July 18, 2006, 12:31:46 am: Dear Rocky & 'Damn Fool'...

Belated CONGRATULATIONS on your ANNIVERSARY!! What a wonderful thread to read, yes!

Very inspired by what you shared, and I wish you both many, many more years together!

All my best,

Zephyr :-*
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Jeffreyj on July 18, 2006, 06:28:22 am: Way to go on your anniversary! Glad you were able to make it out of the restaurant! LoL. And Yeah Librall...i'm looking for a b/f....LoL.
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: MoltenStorm on July 18, 2006, 06:35:44 am: Congratulations on 19 years. Stories like yours give me hope.

In July of 1987, I was 3 years old. *runs for the hills* ;D
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: poznoregon on July 22, 2006, 09:54:57 pm: I'm a little late but none the less Congratulations and Happy Anniversary.

Doug
Title: Re: 19 YEARS! Where or where have those years gone?
Post by: Lou-ah-vull on July 22, 2006, 10:12:32 pm: Congratulations! This past June would have been my 20th anniversary (Michael died in 1993 but I still count each year) so I marvel when people stay together this long. I chuckled over the "fussing and feuding" line... its the hallmark of a good relationship! And oh, what I would give to have it back. Well, I can at least vicariously enjoy your anniversary.... all the best, and here's to the next 19 years!

Gary :D