The Sweetest Story Ever Told

I've heard it said so many times
In books I've read it too
It's always how the story ends
These words are nothing new.

"And so they were married
And lived happily ever after."
Then life is filled with golden hours
Of sunshine, joy, and laughter.

As if the climax has been reached
The conquest is now through
As if something "magic happens"
When you say the words, "I do."

Tho' you have high hopes of perfect bliss
With great anticipation
There is bound to be mixed in with this
Some feelings of deflation!

For when wedding bells start ringing
That's when school begins
You may think that you are getting out
But you have jumped back in.

Before you realize it
You will find that you enlisted
To take a lot of courses
That you never knew existed.

You've learned to keep a budget
That two can live as cheap as one
But you'll toss that theory out the window
Deflation -- number one.

Instead of bringing gifts and flowers
If I am not mistaken
You'll find it's quite a struggle
To keep bringing home the bacon.

You'll give a lot of hours
To your "Family Living" Class
You'll adjust yourself -- unmold yourself
In hopes that you might pass.

When he comes home late for dinner
It takes a lot of pride
To spread a smile across your face
When you don't feel that way inside.

But if he forms this habit
And you'd like to be the winner
You too, must form the habit
Of serving warmed-up beans for dinner.

Those many midnight hours you spent
To rate a better score
Will be replaced -- then multiplied
As you pace the nursery floor.

You've learned a lot of formulas
You may have thought that you were through
But boiled water, milk and syrup
Will cause deflation number two.

It's this steady pace that gets you
You may decide that you can't take it
But you don't drop classes in this school
There's no way to escape it.

And no matter how you work at it
You'll realize too late
That there's just no use in cramming
'Cause you'll never graduate.

Ponder this -- in deepest thought
As you pursue this school of life
Where lies the rich fulfillment
For you -- as man and wife.

It's clapping hands together
While thoughts and hopes are blending
It's watching plans materialize
That will be never ending.

One always has to keep a dream
That hasn't yet come true
One always has to keep a star
To tell his wishes to.

So grasp the challenges at hand
Work toward your goal
Give each day the best you have
You'll make the honor roll!

Tell her often that you love her
'Tis the sweetest story told
May you look back on this day and say
I'm glad that I enrolled.

Written for Maribah Ann Winsor and Leo John Stephenson
Wedding reception: June 8, 1968

Orvetta's thoughts: Maribah was one of my Laurels I taught.