Up & Coming Weekly

July 23, 2019

Up and Coming Weekly is a weekly publication in Fayetteville, NC and Fort Bragg, NC area offering local news, views, arts, entertainment and community event and business information.

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JULY 24-30, 2019 UCW 17 WWW.UPANDCOMINGWEEKLY.COM CROWN COMPLEX 1960 Coliseum Dr. • 910-438-4100 www.crowncomplexnc.com Nov. 19 Mannheim Steamroller Sept. 14 Michelle Weaks & Reggie Codrington DOWNTOWN SUMMER NIGHTS 100 block of Person Street • 910-223-1089 July 25 Eastline Band, Breakfast Club, '80s Tribute Aug. 1 Lee Jean Jr., That Nation Band FAYETTEVILLE AFTER 5 Festival Park: 335 Ray Ave• 910-433-1547 Aug. 9 Kasey Tyndall THE TAPHOUSE AT HUSKE 411 Hay St. • 910-426-5650 Aug. 2 '80s Unplugged Aug. 3 Open Road THE DRUNK HORSE PUB 106 S Eastern Blvd. • 910-835-8347 Aug. 5 Never Loved Aug. 6 Auras, Red Handed Denial, Infirma LUIGI'S ITALIAN RESTAURANT 528 N McPherson Church Rd. 910-864-1810• www.luigisnc.com July 26 Quilted Sky July 27 Mark McKinney & Company Trio Aug. 2 Guy Unger Trio MUSIC The gift of marriage by DAN DEBRULER My wife and I share a date with one of America's most memorable and celebrated events. On July 20, 1969, America claimed its place in history as the Apollo Lunar Module Eagle landed and the first human walked on the face of the moon. We heard those famous words, "One small step for man, one giant leap for mankind," as they were first spoken. TV news stations large and small worked tirelessly to deliver even the most minute detail of the historic event to a waiting world. Ten years later, on July 20, 1979, Dorothy Aafedt and I said "I do" in a remarkably unremarkable ceremony. Unlike the NASA mission, there were no television crews, no microphones or calculated illustrations. There was just a pair of kids surrounded by a couple of friends and family in a courtroom in southern Arizona. At the time it seemed like a small step, but it has proven to be a giant leap as Dorothy and I have continued to mark time since that date. This past weekend we celebrated our 40th wedding anniversary, and it's given me cause to reflect on all that's transpired since our historic first steps. Time has allowed us several years in Europe with our three children, and a home on both the East and West Coasts of the United States. The small, quiet union of two youngsters from Kansas gave way to an eventual family of 18, counting grandchildren and spouses. All but one now calls North Carolina home. As a military family, we share memories of being diverted en route — never once landing at our intended destination at the point of our depar- ture. We've relocated to Germany as our belongings relocated to Okinawa and have lived in hotels and motels on two continents while making new friends time and again. Over the course of the last 40 years, one thing has become evident: there is nothing more important in a mar- riage than the relationship between husband and wife. When other things became more important, such as careers, children and personal pur- suits, trouble isn't far behind. Though I've failed miserably at this on occa- sion, the facts show that when we make the relationship our top prior- ity, the marriage flourishes. Just like any other married couple, we've had our share of trials. From the lack or abundance of money to dev- astating loss and health crises, we've navigated a lot of territory in the past four decades. And honestly, I don't know how we would have fared had we not put our faith in Christ early in the game. God has proven trustworthy. When we've faced struggles, we've been able to lean on the promise that there is more to this life than living and dying, or meeting and missing bills. Even death has stared us in the face, but with God in our corner, though our knees have gotten weak at times, we never blinked. In the end, there is no secret formu- la for a long or successful marriage. It is a gift — a gift you get to open anew each waking day. Marriage is a gift you get to open anew each waking day. Photo by Caroline Veronez on Unsplash DAN DEBRULER, General Manager, WCLN. Comments? Editor@upandcomingweekly. com. 910-484-6200. OPINION "Cumberland County's Community Newspaper"

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