An opal for my wonderful, beloved pal!

AS we celebrate my wife’s 63^rd birthday, which is also, by her design, our wedding anniversary, we decided to do as we always did throughout the years.  Spend time together as a family. When the kids were just growing up, we used to take them to nearby Laguna, invite family and friends and have an overnight stay in a private pool. This was the time that the children were learning how to swim.  We did this until they grew old and we decided we have had enough and just have a staycation inside a luxurious, - at least within our concept of what is, affordable hotel and enjoy its amenities.  We have celebrated in Shangri-la in Mandaluyong, Crimson in Alabang, Nobu, Crowne Plaza to name a few.  This year, we decided to try nearby Ascott Hotel in BGC. During these staycations, I have always managed to write something about my wife and our marriage as a way of a gift to her.  I have kept them in my blog and you can review them here, here, here, and my favorite, here.

As I woke early the day after our celebration, I am once again tinkering with my computer trying to compose a little something for my beloved spouse.  I searched through the net and came to know that there is no traditional gift for the 34^th as the charts only provided until the 20^th. Could it be possible that those making the chart have foreseen marriages to last only until the 20^th? If this were so, then, we could say that our marriage has withstood the test of time! I tried to reason some more and remembered there is the gold for the 50^th, and the supposed chart even goes farther like diamond for the 75^th -but who gets to live that long other than Methuselah, right? So, I have been thinking there must be something. A little research would yield something.  What do they celebrate the 34^th with?

Opal! That is what it is!

Opal is thought to be derived from the Sanskit ‘upala’ meaning ‘precious stone’ which is also the Greek derivative ‘Opallios’ meaning to ‘see a change of color’.  How does one relate that to a loved one? Nitz is definitely and undeniably my precious stone. What about the changing of color? How do I relate that to her and our marriage?  Does she suddenly become a chameleon, changing color to camouflage her emotions? Does our marriage have to change color? But our relationship has been the color of happiness throughout the years. There is a saying that one does not fix that which is not broke! Then I realize, yes, people change and we are not an exception.  We have lived our lives almost to near perfection that I believe we have passed all the trials and tribulations sent along our way. We managed to have our children stay in school until they graduated in college and are now earning their keep.  We have finished paying the house mortgage and the house we live in is completely ours, we have even renovated it to suit our growing family (physically that is, not in number), have a good car for mobility, gone abroad either alone or with the whole family, etc.  Yes, it is possible that Nitz and our marriage could change color but only for the better.  We have proved ourselves as individuals and as a couple and it has been a wonderful ride through life and I am only happily fortunate that I had her as my companion during this journey.  I could not imagine taking it without her.  And  so, an opal it is for my everlasting love, my pal, my soulmate!