How can it be - where does time go?

by Angela Sanford

 August 4th saw a break in the record high temperatures in 1995 – those temperatures hitting 21 degrees for a period of four weeks. What we experience now makes that temperature feel cool. On August 1st, 1995 the temperature actually reached 35 degrees but a hurricane off the coast of Nova Scotia brought rain to East Hants late Friday night and all morning Saturday, August 5th.

   Liberal leader, John Savage, was the current premier of NS and tax reform was the primary discussion of politics – not much has changed there over 30 years. Early August also saw the amalgamation of Sydney into the Cape Breton Regional Municipality ending the cities status as one of only three cities in Nova Scotia.

   John Michael Montgomery’s song, “SOLD”, was topping the country charts, while his previous hit, “I Swear,” was headlining the biggest event of my life to date – an event three years in the making.

   1995 was a monumental year for me; I’d completed my teaching degree at the NS Teacher’s College in January and accepted my first term contract with the West Hants School Board at Brooklyn Elementary School under the principalship of Maxwell “Max” Pye. Having entered the position the first week of February I had to request permission that May from the board office to attend my own graduation, which was granted.

   If this were not enough to contend with, Dan and I were ending our three-year engagement with a wedding the long weekend of August, specifically August 5th. Our wedding plans were well underway for a small event at the Noel United Church with a simple reception at the firehall “across the road.” And we departed that reception early to make our way to our wedding night at the Digby Pines Resort.

   30 years ago! We were young and ready to take on the world and whatever adventure marriage might bring. While we are happily married, the ceremony and rings did not make our marriage – it’s been a lifetime commitment with ups and downs and unexpected encounters to bring chaos to our lives. We’ve had our share of disagreements, arguments, and even a couple of battles but, thankfully, our relationship has continued to grow over the years. 

   As the boys grew up it was a rare occasion to see Dan and I in the same vehicle – we’d often arrive or depart events at different times and head in different directions to get them to whatever was on their schedule. But that was for a common goal, to help our boys achieve their goals. We spend more time in the same vehicle these days and hopefully even more once I have the luxury of retiring like he has. 

   If you had asked me, right up until the moment that Dan proposed (which was very unexpected), I would have said that I had no intention of ever getting married. But Dan swept my off my feet, I guess you’d say, and here we are 30 years later – our pearl anniversary. 

   The pearl symbolizes cultivated beauty, resilience, and rarity and 30 years together is rare these days. We have worked hard to build a beautiful family and home, and we have learned to be resilient together, not just in solitude. 

   We’ve watched each other grow and adapt, we’ve challenged each other to be better people, and we’ve certainly enjoyed our fair share of celebrations over the years, such as we will this week on a quick get away to PEI to enjoy some time kayaking, golfing, and enjoying good food together. Not to mention the time spent in the car reminiscing and planning for our next 30 years.