Thirty Pearls

When Dr. Gary Lysik and I first got married, fairly quickly I noticed when I thought in terms of him being "the man I would spend the entire rest of my life with" the goal seemed daunting, slightly mundane, predictable. It wasn't until I changed my reference frame to "this is the man I will walk hand-in-hand with tomorrow" did the pressure to *make-it-work-for-a-lifetime* lift. Ten thousand nine hundred and fifty [+] tomorrows later I haven't stopped looking forward to living the gift of a next day.

To the then faceless Prince of my prepubescent fantasies, to the man who is the primary reason I am confident there is a never ending wealth of water in tomorrow, to the guy who ROCKS the sanctuary of my world....you give exceptionally exciting love. THANK YOU for breathing into my life rich fullness and meaning. THANK YOU for making the word marriage something I can hold in high esteem. THANK YOU for selecting me to take this journey with you. THANK YOU for thus far delivering to me EVERY. SINGLE. THING. you promised 35 years ago. I am so proud of you, Garamy. I am elated to call you my Bestest of Best Friend and honored to be your wife. THANK YOU for such an enchanting 30th Anniversary Celebration. Double or nothing? :9) (British Virgin Islands)

1 People frequently ask how we have managed to forge a 30+ year lovingly committed marriage. I do not believe there exists a pat answer since personalities, deal breakers, and the ability to step outside of self to give to a partner varies. This album highlights what has worked for Gary and me.	2 I absolutely LOVE dressing up for my man. My goal remains to give him a visual reason to enjoy walking by my side.	3 Fliritng with him is such heady foreplay. I look for opportunities to rub up on him, to touch him sensually. Sometimes that touch looks as playful as rubbing noses, sometimes the touch is more sexually overt.	4 We find laughter, key. Playing together creates necessary connective energy that many often overlook.
5 But there is also something to be said for ALONE TIME.	6 ... it is crucial time be alloted to honor self.	7 Alone time gives our relationship a connective reboot.	8 And then there are the outdoors..... engaging in activities that allow us to get dirty together....
9 Basically anything water related, I've found, has the same effect as romantic candlelight..	10 ...and builds in opportunitiy to jump in the shower together, following.	11 Another thing that has kept us yoked is exploring uncharted terrain? .......stepping outside of our comfort zones to create experiences that put us in touch with nature while encouraging individual growth....	12 like exploring majestic rock caves...
13 introducing an element of danger...	14 ...which calls for team work.	15 I find romance in how many times one or the other of us will stop to say: "Are you okay?" "Do you need help?" "Walk this way, it's better." Or, "I'll hold that while you cross." In this showing of concern comes....	16 a natural tenderness, that not only seeds security but also produces an adrenaline rush, knowing that each the other is cared for, considered; that there is substantive love...
17 Of course an added benefit is exercise, getting the heart rate pumped...	18 that can only lead to unimagined beauty as one stops to behold fruitful yields upon reaching the other side.	19 I LOVE LOVE LOVE that we push the envelope...I mean, seriously!!!	20 ...A GUY who charters a helo to whisk his lady away to an uninhabited private island ....
21 ...flying her over the private island compound of a business man whose business acumen she admires....	22 all while pointing out sights like sunken ships along the way....	23 ...just so she can live out a long held fantasy of laying out in the sun, enjoying secluded bluffs...	24 ... exploring the uninhabited place...
25 in primitive jungle girl mode..	26 Swimming IN.THE. BUFF....	27 That guy is absolutely going to be cleaved to. THAT GUY is going to be loved.	28 We are soooooo blessed to have managed to live together long enough to CELEBRATE anniversary year 30. Taking absolutely NOTHING for granted, I look forward to tomorrow. And if we're lucky, there'll be the day after that. Thanks for celebrating with us in pics this milestone!!!