The Best at 85 That Can Be!

“I always think that age is a natural progression, and I’m ready for it, whatever. I’m going to be the best 85-year-old that I can be if I’m still around.”

~ Ann-Margret
ACCOMPLISHMENTS

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Loving & Liking Your Spouse

“Hopefully you marry someone who you not only love, but who you like as well.”

~ Tom Selleck,
Actor, Film Producer, Co-Founder of the Character Counts Coalition,
Honorary Doctorate for Outstanding Character and Ethic- Pepperdine University (2000),
Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame (1986), Golden Apple Awards (1983),
People’s Choice Award (1984 & 1985 (2x)), Emmy Award (1984), Golden Globe Award (1985),
National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum (2010)

Trading on Looks & Body

“If you’re only trading on looks and your body, that’s only going to go so far. But that was never my bag. I was always about the whole package.”

~ Angie Dickinson
Actress, Golden Globe Award ‘New Star of the Year’ – Actress (1960, Rio Bravo), & Golden Globe Award ‘Best Television Actress’ – Drama Series (1975, Police Woman).

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Are You Keeping Your Talents to Yourself?

“God didn’t give you talents to keep to yourself. He gave them to you to share and that’s exactly what I try to do. I try to train people to sing out their feelings in their own way.”

~ Emily “Cissy” Houston

a.k.a. The Dutchess of Gospel
Medal for Distinguished Humanitarian Leadership, Rhythm and Blues Foundation Pioneer Award,
Grammy Awards for Best Traditional Gospel Album (2X)

Marriage: Better Than Your Dreams

“You know you’re in love when you don’t want to fall asleep because reality is finally better than your dreams.”

~ Dr. Seuss

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Marriage: A Flower for Every Thought of You

“If I had a flower for every time I thought of you…I could walk through my garden forever.”

~ Alfred Lord Tennyson
Poet & Poet Laureate of the United Kingdom (1850–1892)

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Marriage: Every Chapter

Never Knew I Needed

“ For the way you changed my plans
For being the perfect distraction
For the way you took the idea that I had
Of everything that I wanted to haveAnd made me see
There was something missing
For the ending of my first begin
And for the rare and unexpected friend
For the way
You’re something that I’d never choose
But at the same time something I don’t wanna lose
And never wanna be without

Ever again
You’re the best thing I never knew I needed
So when you appeared I had no idea
You’re the best thing I never knew I needed
Now it’s so clear I need you here always
My accidental happily
Ever after
The way you smile and how you comfort me

With your laughter
I must admit you were not a part of my book
But now if you open it up and take a look
You’re the beginning and the end
Of every chapter
You’re the best thing I never knew I needed
So when you appeared I had no idea
You’re the best thing I never knew I needed
Now it’s so clear I need you here always.”

~ Neyo

Singer, Songwriter, Actor, Dancer & Record ProducerDisney’s ‘The Princess & The Frog’

Animated Movie

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Marriage: True Love Blooms

Our Love

“Our love will bloom always fairer,
Fresher, more gracious,
Because it is a true love.”

~ Honore De Balzac
Poet, Novelist & Playwright

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Marriage: How at Last I’d Find in You The Missing Part of Me

If I Never Knew You

“If I never knew you
If I never felt this love
I would have no inkling of
How precious life can be
And if I never held you
I would never have a clue
How at last I’d find in you
The missing part of me
If I never knew you
I’d be safe but half as real
Never knowing I could feel
A love so strong and true
I’m so grateful to you
I’d have lived my whole life through
Lost forever
If I never knew you”

~ Disney’s ‘Pocahontas’
Animated Movie

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Marriage: Love that Makes Life Divine

So This Is Love

“So this is love
So this is love
So this is what makes life divine
I’m all aglow
And now I know
The key to all Heaven is mine
My heart has wings
And I can fly, I’ll touch every star in the sky
So this is the miracle that I’ve been dreaming of
So this is love”

~ Disney’s ‘Cinderella’
Animated Movie

Marriage: Love is a Song That Never Ends

Love Is A Song

“Love is a song that never ends
Life may be swift and fleeting
Hope may die yet love’s beautiful music
Comes each day like the dawn
Love is a song that never ends
One simple theme repeating
Like the voice of a Heavenly choir
Love’s sweet music flows on.”

~ Disney’s ‘Bambi’
Animated Movie

Marriage: Walking the Aisle

My Wedding Day
a poem from The Bride To Father

“I think about the time,
Not so long ago,
That when I needed a helping hand,
You were the first to know
I think about the memories,
The good times we’ve shared,
I think about all you’ve taught me,
And how my broken heart you always repaired
Now as I stand here today,
And reminisce on the past,
I think about how hard this day is for you,How fast the years have surpassed
But as you walk me down the aisle,
Daddy, please don’t cry,
You know how much I love you,
And this is not good-bye
As I spread my wings and fly,
Look at me and know,
That you will forever be in my heart,
Even as the years grow
I think of today as a new beginning,
But my love for you will stay,
So walk me down the aisle Daddy,
It’s my Wedding Day”~ Lacey D. Karlek
Poet

Marriage: Going Through Time with You

Time In A Bottle

“If I could save time in a bottle, the first thing that I’d like to do, is to save every day ‘til eternity passes away, just to spend them with you. If I could make days last forever; if words could make wishes come true; I’d save every day like a treasure and then, again, I would spend them with you. If I had a box just for wishes, and dreams that had never come true; the box would be empty, except for the memory of how they were answered by you. But there never seems to be enough time to do the things you want to do, once you find them. I’ve looked around enough to know that you’re the one I want to go through time with.”

~ Jim Croce

Poet, Folk & Rock Singer-Songwriter

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Marriage: “I’m Sorry”, “Forgive Me” & “I Love You No Matter What”

“Love is the thing that is always having the last word—even when those words are ‘I’m sorry,’ or ‘Forgive me,’ or ‘I love you no matter what.”

~ Cleo Wade
Poet

Marriage: When I Am with You

“I love you not only for what you are, but for what I am when I am with you.”

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Poet

Marriage: Two Loves Eye to Eye

Doves Poem

“Two doves meeting in the sky
Two loves hand in hand, eye to eye
Two parts of a loving whole
Two hearts and a single soul
Two stars shining big and bright
Two fires bringing warmth and light
Two songs played in perfect tune
Two flowers growing into bloom
Two doves gliding in the air
Two loves free without a care
Two parts of a loving whole
Two hearts and a single soul
Two dreams found before too late
Two lives together bound by fate
Two people cling to one another
Two people in love with each other
Two doves, can you see them soar?
Two loves – who could ask for more?
Two parts of a loving whole
Two hearts and a single soul”

~ Author Unknown
Poet

Marriage: Love’s Truths

True Love

“True love is a sacred flame
That burns eternally
And none can dim its special glow
Or change its destiny
True love speaks in tender tones
And hears with gentle ear
True love gives with open heart
And true love conquers fear
True love makes no harsh demands
It neither rules nor binds
And true love holds with gentle hands
The heart that it entwines”

~ Author Unknown

Marriage: To Walk Alone & Together

To Love Is Not to Posses

“To love is not to possess,
To own or imprison,
Nor to lose one’s self in another.
Love is to join and separate,
To walk alone and together,
To find a laughing freedom
That lonely isolation does not permit.
It is finally to be able
To be who we really are
No longer clinging in childish dependency
Nor docilely living separate lives in silence,
It is to be perfectly one’s self
And perfectly joined in permanent commitment
To another—and to one’s inner self.
Love only endures when it moves like waves,
Receding and returning gently or passionately,
Or moving lovingly like the tide
In the moon’s own predictable harmony,
Because finally, despite a child’s scars
Or an adult’s deepest wounds,
They are openly free to be
Who they really are—and always secretly were,
In the very core of their being
Where true and lasting love can alone abide.”

~ James Kavanaugh
Poet

Marriage: The Many Ways We Love Each Other

How Do I Love Thee?

“How do I love thee? Let me count the ways.
I love thee to the depth and breadth and height
My soul can reach, when feeling out of sight
For the ends of being and ideal grace.
I love thee to the level of every day’s
Most quiet need, by sun and candle-light.
I love thee freely, as men strive for right.
I love thee purely, as they turn from praise.
I love thee with the passion put to use
In my old griefs, and with my childhood’s faith.
I love thee with a love I seemed to lose
With my lost saints. I love thee with the breath,
Smiles, tears, of all my life; and, if God choose,
I shall but love thee better after death.”

~ Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Poet

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Marriage: Devotion

“Devoted”

“My heart can be your home,
my soul can be your refuge.
You can turn to me when you are weak,
you can call to me when the way is not clear.
I will be your promise and your prayer,
I will always be there,
Constant and complete.
Run to me,
reach out for me,
and I will love you in a unique and tender way.
Bring your love to me,
share your love with me,
sing your love to me,
and I will offer you peace, ease and comfort.”

~ Lori Eberhai
Poet

Weddings & Marriage: Loving Each Other Through the ‘A’s to ‘Z’s

The Gift

“In you are flowers and firelight,
stars and songbirds,
the scent of summer,
the stillness just before dawn.
I love you today,
dressed in glory.
I will love you always-
dancing, singing, reading, making, planning, arguing.
I will love you cantankerous, and tired,
courageous and in terror,
joyful, fearful and triumphant.
I will love you through all weathers and all change.
For all you are is precious to me.
And every day I live with you
and share your love
is a gift to me.”

~ Pam Brown
Poet

Marriage: In the Flush of Love’s Light

Touched by an Angel

“We, unaccustomed to courage
exiles from delight
live coiled in shells of loneliness
until love leaves its high holy temple
and comes into our sight
to liberate us into life.
Love arrives
and in its train come ecstasies
old memories of pleasure
ancient histories of pain.
Yet if we are bold,
love strikes away the chains of fear
from our souls.
We are weaned from our timidity
In the flush of love’s light
we dare be brave
And suddenly we see
that love costs all we are
and will ever be.
Yet it is only love
which sets us free.”

~ Maya Angelou
Poet

Marriage: Two Clouds Mingled into One

I Saw Two Clouds at Morning

“I saw two clouds at morning,
tinged by the rising sun,
and in the dawn they floated on,
and mingled into one;
I thought that morning cloud was blest,
it moved so sweetly to the west.
I saw two summer currents
flow smoothly to their meeting,
and join their course, with silent force,
in peace each other greeting;
calm was their course through banks of green,
while dimpling eddies played between.
Such be your gentle motion,
‘till life’s last pulse shall beat;
like summer’s beam and summer’s stream,
float on in joy, to meet
a calmer sea, where storms shall cease,
a purer sky, where all is peace.”

~ John G. C. Brainard
Poet

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Marriage: May You Always Walk Together in Mutual Love

New Beginnings

“May this be a day of new beginnings
the sun, like a fragrant apple; the summer air,
soft on your hands as the kiss of a child.
May berries melt like honey on your tongue.
May your heart rise in wonder
at the clouds drifting across the sky.
May the trails under your boots
be covered in pine quills,
let the leaves rain down
like memories
in the autumn of your heart.
May the snow beneath your skis
run as fast as watered silk,
may the cold air kiss your cheeks,
turn them red as summer’s roses.
May the rivers always flow
with their unexpected beauty,
the first freshets of snowmelt,
the rush of early spring. May you always walk in gladness
through whatever path or highway;
may you always walk within the golden circle of your love.”

~ Barbara Crooker

Poet

Marriage: Your Dream of a Life Together

“A Wedding Toast”

“May your love be firm,
And may your dream of a life together
be a river between two shores
by day bathed in sunlight, and by night
illuminated from within. May the heron
carry news of you to the heavens, and the salmon bring
the sea’s blue grace. May your twin thoughts spiral upward
like leafy vines, like fiddle strings in the wind,
and be as noble as the Douglas fir.
May you never find yourselves back to back
without love pulling you around
into each other’s arms.”

~ James Bertolino
Poet