26 Comments
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Elizabeth Marro's avatar

"Because of Dan, we see incredible views and we reach heights we probably wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Because of me, we take them in." = That's beautiful ,as was this post. Happy anniversary!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Thank you! Thanks for reading!

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Andrea Bass's avatar

Happy anniversary to you and Dan! This is a beautiful post. I loved reading about the ways you two balance each other, and I’m thankful for all of the people who balance me. Give Anna my love!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Thank you! I will!

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Priscilla Stuckey's avatar

Happy anniversary! When we lived in Boulder we had a bench at the top of a nearby hill where we would hike and sit and look and “come back to each other,” as you so beautifully put it. On our 15th anniversary we moved here to Maui, possessions scraped to nothing and my hopes to get scuba certified high in our imaginations. I did get certified. But then he fell in love with the ocean too, and now we go say hello to the fishies together, swimming for a couple hours together. It’s wordless—just the way both of us like it—and full of communication as we run across an old favorite sea creature or a new one. We live & work together 24/7 in 700 square feet, but we feel closest in the wordless water, full of awe & wonder. Totally revitalizes our relationship. Fish, goats—they all help the magic!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

This is a beautiful story Priscilla. Thanks for sharing!

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Joni B's avatar

Happy Anniversary! We're coming up on our 41st, still together after all those years of ups and downs and several sideways shifts. At age 60, hubby decided we should get new hiking gear, after not having backpacked in 20 years! Now that we're semi-retired, we've been exploring the Eagle Cap and the Gospel Hump Wilderness each summer. I hoped to glimpse a goat in the Wallowas in August; but it was a hot day. Thanks for the great close-ups :-) Here's hoping you and Dan will celebrate your 40th picnicking with a mountain goat.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

41 years that’s so incredible. I love that you hike together too. Thanks for being here Joni.

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Angela Autrey's avatar

I’m so warmed at the thought of a marriage built on playlists and prose. And, currently single, I’ve the sudden urge to create a dating profile: Forest Person seeking a Tree Dweller. Thank you for a beautiful Sunday morning narrative - and may you enjoy a long life of being found by mountain goats.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Angela, this is such a beautiful and witty comment. You should totally create that profile. Thank you for the gift of your words. Thanks for being here.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Angela, would it be okay if I posted this comment in Notes? I love it so much. If not, that is okay. Just want you to know how much it delighted me.

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Angela Autrey's avatar

Of course! Thanks, I so enjoyed the post.

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Tera Ray's avatar

Happy Anniversary! My husband and I also enjoy hiking together. As a geologist, his pace only slows for rock outcrops whereas I like to admire the trees and wild flowers which usually means I am the one lagging behind. This weekend I've been listening to a lot of Brandi Carlile. "Crowded Table" and her cover of the Indigo Girl's "The Closer I am to Fine" with her wife Catherine have been on repeat.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I love Brandi Carlisle. I’m a little jealous of her life. I think she and her wife live pretty off grid if I remember correctly, at the foot of the mountains. Thanks for the recs. I will definitely check them out.

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Judith Spitzer's avatar

Happy Anniversary. I'm envious of what you and your husband have. Good for you both in making time to celebrate each other and your relationship. I also loved the line, ""Because of Dan, we see incredible views and we reach heights we probably wouldn’t have reached otherwise. Because of me, we take them in." That's so profound. Love reading your writing.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I’m grateful for you, for your honesty and your friendship. Thanks for reading.

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Celeste Davis's avatar

Happy anniversary!!! I’ve been meaning to listen to that interview with Andrea and Megan - thanks for the push 😊 I’m currently taking Megan’s 6 week poetry course and it’s AMAZING!!!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Honestly, I listen to everything with Andrea Gibson now. They are such a light. I can’t wait to hear more about the poetry course.

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John Poignand's avatar

it's been a while since I climbed around in the rockies. Thanks for bringing it back for me,

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

I’m so glad the post brought back happy memories. Thanks for being here John.

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Elizabeth Beggins's avatar

Thank you for pointing me here, Mary. What a beautiful story of cooperation and forbearance. I hope you two keep walking these paths together for many years to come!

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Thanks for reading! I hope your anniversary is sweet, and I wish you the same!

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Sonbol A.'s avatar

Happy Anniversary 💕 This was such a beautiful piece, and so much of it resonated with me. After 17 years of marriage, I sometimes get too focused on the differences, and as you beautifully put it "devolve into a less gracious understanding of our differences". Thank you for the reminder to step back and find my perspective.

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Welcome Sonbol. Thank you for being here and for your lovely comment. It brought light to my morning. I need that reminder today as well. 🤗

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Frances's avatar

Reading this post made me incredibly happy

Happy anniversary

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Mary Hutto Fruchter's avatar

Reading your comment made me happy. Thanks for reading! So glad you were able to spend some time outdoors this weekend.

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