I just saw “Princess Bride” for the umpteenth time last night. Yeah, yeah, yeah, it’s corny, schmaltzy and I wondered is there really such a thing as “true love” or the “perfect farm boy”? Well, I guess the Universe thought my question was sincere enough to toss me an answer via the love story of Stacy and Audie, celebrating their 11th wedding anniversary today.
Stacy and Audie knew each other for many years but it wasn’t love at first sight. When she was 14, she knew Audie and his family from church, however, she then thought he was “too old and dorky.” Fast forward 5 years: Stacy’s working in a supermarket and checking out a cute guy shopping and realized it was Audie. You know what happens next when you’re on the right love path: they started running into each other all the time. She found out that he was on the verge of giving up his farm because he didn’t have someone to help him with it.
So what do you do when you know it’s true love? Stacy learned how to become the perfect farm girl. She didn’t even know that all cows weren’t black and white!
We dated for only ten months, although you couldn’t really call what we did dating. We worked on the farm together every day – milking, feeding cows, making hay, cleaning stalls, etc….I think working so closely together everyday, with a common goal, facing the good, the bad and the smelly, gave us a foundation that has carried us through some hard times.
That totally blew me away. You love the person, you love their work and make it your own life’s work. Your goals become one. Stacy didn’t give up her life to lead one that she didn’t want. She loves the outdoors and what Audie was doing with his life resonated with her inner desires. She actually moved towards a life she wanted to live and wasn’t living by working in a supermarket.
What does she say is the real glue in their relationship?
We both give each other room to grow, to change, and to be who we are. Neither of us tries to make the other into our ideal mate. We accept each other as we are, and love without condition. He is the best friend I’ve ever had.
This is probably the best love recipe that I’ve ever seen.
Sharing life goals and your spiritual life goes a long way to keeping the glue in a relationship. Sometimes we think that life goals have to be some sort of grandiose plan. And it can be as simple as just enjoying your daily life together and be open to learning from one another.
The way that people can change over time and meet again can be very romantic! Being able to spend time working on something meaningful together is great too. Nice post!