Sunrise, Sunset

Forty-one years ago today, two eager youngins got married in the Mesa Arizona Temple with the hopes of being together forever.

She had first spotted him at the cafeteria at Eastern Arizona College where they both worked their freshman year; he was hard at work peeling potatoes and she kept making excuses to get more saran wrap which was conveniently nearby. Impressed by his dashing good looks, she turned down a better-paying secretarial job in order to keep working amongst the potatoes and saran wrap. He later served in the Southwest Indian Mission and she waited for him {though she insists that she had no intention of doing such a thing for any guy}. He asked her father for permission to marry her, and survived a seemingly trauma-filled weekend with her eight brothers {the full story remains a mystery, but an official apology for that weekend's events was made by each brother at the last family reunion}.

The rest of course is history...but it might as well be disclosed.

Somewhere between Arizona, Utah, Wyoming, and Arizona {once again}, they acquired nine of the most beautiful, talented, bright, and well-behaved children any two parents could hope for. They settled in a new house where they battled the dirt and weeds to plant some trees, grass, and flowers and have been living there quite cozily for the past thirty-five years. The two have also collected a fairly pleasant assortment of sixteen grandchildren and are suspicious that two more might be added to the throng during the coming year.

And the rest of that is history which has yet to be made.

Is this the little girl I carried?

Is this the little boy at play?

I don't remember growing older

When did they?

When did she get to be a beauty?

When did he grow to be so tall?

Wasn't it yesterday 

When they were small?

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly flow the days

Seedlings turn overnight to sunflowers

Blossoming even as we gaze.

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears. 

What words of wisdom can I give them?

How can I help to ease their way?

Now they must learn from one another

Day by day. 

They look so natural together.

Just like two newlyweds should be. 

Is there a canopy in store for me?

Sunrise, sunset

Sunrise, sunset 

Swiftly fly the years

One season following another

Laden with happiness and tears. 

{Sunrise, Sunset from Fiddler on the Roof}