In less than 24 hours, five seasons of Stranger Things will come to a close after ten years of adventures and anticipation of what each of the next seasons would bring. We have watched young actors grow up on screen as they do battle through various dimensions. We have witnessed their victories as well as their defeats as they make their way toward the final battle that will will bring resolution to the town of Hawkins.
Today(or I guess yesterday since this published after midnight) Burchy and I celebrate 30 years of marriage. Thirty “seasons” of our own adventure that began not in a laboratory trying to produce people with supernatural powers but in a facility that provided the tools and means to develop into better baseball and softball players.
Like the cast of the show, we started our journey very young not playing a game on a board but playing a game on diamonds made of dirt. Now, neither one of us was taken by a demogorgon but that’s not to say that through the years we haven’t faced our share of “creatures” that managed to pull us into the “upside down” a few times. Being in unknown places and circumstances can be scary not knowing how to navigate the world that felt dark and not sure what was lurking around the corner wondering if you’d even find the passage back to the “right side up”. The one constant through all the encounters, good and bad, was Burchy being by my side.
Burchy is my “Joyce”. When it comes to her family she never wavers in moments of danger and is willing to protect what is in her charge. She has a never ending supply of hope which is derived from her deep roots of faith. Is she ever fearful? Yes, but it’s hard to see but she meets the challenge head on even when facing a “demogorgon” or “Vecna” himself. Her weapon of choice is her devoted faith and love for her family and she always prevails.
I also feel she has a bit of “Will” in her as well. She can be vulnerable at times, sweet(even though she will argue she’s salty), and fun loving with a great sense of humor(thankfully, being around baseball boys for over 30 years). But……she can sense the presence of danger, her motherly intuition, and when necessary find the power within, her super mom powers, to ward off anything that is trying to harm the people she loves.
Of course, on rare occasions, I have seen glimpses of “El” come out where she uses her God given talents and strengths to do things that just amaze me……just without the nosebleed. Those talents and strengths extend well beyond the physical, which I must say she could probably throw a softball pretty dang hard and heaven forbit she hits you with the “bullet”….IYKYK, but some of her superpowers exist in her ability to connect and relate to people. She is like Tim Allen in the movie “The Santa Clause”, kids just seem to love her. She has been an elementary teacher for 27 years and even taught at the high school level for 4 and the result was the same, she builds great relationships wherever she goes not to mention the countless baseball players over the years.
For over thirty years Burchy and I have “grown up” together. We have grown as individuals but more importantly we have grown in our marriage as it relates to our faith, how we love each other, and how we have grown in parenthood to Kaden and Ketch. Her steadfast love and faith have pulled me out of the “upside down” a few times over the years and she is always waiting with open arms and understanding ready to move on to the next chapter of the story.
Burchy, I am forever grateful for 30 amazing “seasons”. Starting with standing on the alter and saying “I do”, you have been at my side for some of the most amazing moments of my life and I would not have it any other way. Tomorrow night the “Stranger Things” finale brings a great story to an end but today(might be tomorrow by the time I publish this blog) as we celebrate 30 years of marriage tomorrow is a day to celebrate another day, as Suzie and Dustin would sing, of our never-ending story. We get to continue our campaign and add to our story as we build new tunnels to new adventures that await.
Just as Max was “running up that hill”, I say “Here’s to Us” Burchy! When I reflect on our thirty plus years I come to one conclusion, I’d go with you to dimension x, I’d follow you to the “upside down” and if a wormhole existed to take us back to 1995 I’d do it all again.
Happy 30th!
I love you to infinity Burchy! Here’s to thirty more!
Kinger
Burchy and Big Guy 