Salt and pepper. Sugar and spice. Ham and eggs. Hot and cold. Left and right. Biscuits and gravy. Bogey and Bacall. Abbot and Costello. Burns and Allen. Lewis and Martin. Roy and Dale and Trigger and Bullet.

And then there are my couples, two folks who hooked up and have, not only stayed together, but have become as much of a match as the pairs listed above. There is no way i could list all of those i know, but here are some who stand out in my mind:

My folks: She told her mother when she was a sophomore-to-be in high school who she was going to marry. He was in bib jeans, no shirt, walking home to Spring Street after helping his father doing daily maintenance at Lebanon High School. She was visiting her mother. Granny was working 24-7 as a nurse, or what we now call a care-giver, in a home on North Cumberland Street, east side. As he was walking down the hill approaching the house, she tugged at her mother and had her come to the porch. As he walked by, she told her mother that was the man she was going to marry. Six years later, she did. They were not rich, far from it. He was working at Hankins and Smith by 1938, a mechanic if not already the shop supervisor for $13 a week. She had taken a job as a teller for Commerce Union Bank for $22 a month. She also was helping several businesses with their book keeping to supplement their incomes. They never stopped working. They did all right by my measure. They never stopped loving. And they were complimentary to each other’s expertise and their personalities. Yeh, they are tops on my couples list.

My daughter Blythe and her husband Jason Gander. i said it when i made my toast at the reception after their wedding they had the best chance of anyone i knew to matching her grandparents as a couple. They are doing pretty well at it. She met him when she was visiting us in the Southwest Corner. He was a sailor, an aviation boatswainmate on the USS Tripoli. They fooled around for a couple of years after he got out and went back to Kansas, but apparently, he couldn’t stand it and moved to Austin to be with her. It worked. They have an amazing son, Sam, my grandson.

Then there’s Eddie and Brenda Callis. High school sweethearts. Lasted a long time. They play gin rummy every day. She is still winning. They take care of a lot of people in many ways. Brenda is the daughter of my father’s boss, later partner. We’ve known each other a long time, even longer than either of us have known Eddie. No matter. They are rather spectacular.

Henry and Brenda Harding. Married late. Didn’t matter. They have a relationship as strong, if not stronger than anyone i know. i met Henry at our Christening several years ago. Feel like i know him like a brother. Heck, he is my other brother. Every time i see them, which is far too infrequently, i marvel at the strength of their relationship.

Marty and Linda Linville. They too were high school sweethearts, marrying while he was going to college and playing football. Long lasting. Strong. i smile every Friday morning when i see Marty park before our Friday morning golf round. He calls her to see how she is doing and to let her know he got there safely.

Pete and Nancy Toennies. i really can’t tell who made which decision. They are synergistic. Met out here when Pete was a new Navy SEAL and she was a nurse. He’s from New York City. She is from Southwest Tennessee/Northwest Mississippi and the Florida panhandle. Doesn’t matter. Perfect.

There are many others. i won’t go into my thoughts about Maureen and some goofy guy. i’ve pretty well covered that and undoubtedly will do so again. Although we were later: she was 33; i was approaching 40. Been a pretty amazing ride these last 35 years.

The impetus in writing about couples is one other set of them. Thinking about these two set me off about considering couples.

Buddy and Beverly Phillips. Buddy fell in love with Beverly sometime around junior high, i think if not earlier. He waited patiently for several years. He was rewarded. It does not matter how long they have been married (it’s a long time). When i see them, it makes me feel warm inside. The world got something right when they matched up.

Beverly has been having some health problems again. She beat it the first time. With the strength of their love, i’m thinking she’s going to beat it again. That would make me feel better. After all, they are a couple. A real perfect couple.

After i wrote my last, i promise, post about our country’s challenges, i fired up the “egg” grill knock off. Maureen and i, in a rare moment, collaborated on our halibut dinner. She did the tough stuff: the gourmet sauce and magic butter dish for the fish, the asparagus, and of course, another of her incredible salads, along with the bread she somehow finds to match a meal perfectly.

Me?

i monitored the grill, greased up what was necessary, turned on my iPod bluetooth for old time music, and waited patiently in what we call in paradise weather as cold (about sixty degrees), finally putting the fish on the grill for a few moments.

i turned on my “Sky Guide” to study the heavens’ constellations, planets, and stars as the charcoal fired up to fish cooking level. There were high clouds in anticipation of a front coming through tomorrow. The starry constellations were obscure. i could not find Venus, but i found Mars. It was dim below the waxing crescent moon. Directly underneath was my ensign…er, flag at the crest of our hill. i could barely make out the stars and stripes, vowing to add some more light. It was a pleasing feeling to look up at it and forward to whatever happens next:

Peace.

Recently, i exchanged FB messages with a close friend from back home. Jane Couch Boyer now lives in Philadelphia. She’s a huge Philadelphia Flyer fan, and from our exchanges, i believe she leans toward conservative. She is also a well-thought person who seeks facts for her decision making. i like her a lot.

i planned to copy that exchange here and received Jane’s permission to do so. i wrote a fairly long piece explaining my thoughts.

i tossed it, the explanation and our message exchange.

You see, i am once again caught in the middle. i see the need and even the logic of the more reasonable arguments on both sides of “The Wall” issue.

i will not make my opinion about the politics of the situation public. i will be more than willing to have a one-on-one discussion on the subject with anyone who is reasonable and will listen to other’s opinions with an open mind. Like Jane.

But i am out of that business and almost forgot.

So my argument is not political.

i am only addressing what seems obvious to me.

Here is what i think about the whole brouhaha which is causing much more bad of everything than it’s worth:

A “Wall” will not keep the bad guys out. They have proven they will figure out a way to do their dirty deeds.

A “Wall” will not come close to costing $5 Billion. Having some experience on both sides of government contracting, the cost will be at least three to five times that figure.

And personally, the idea of a wall brings to my mind another wall in Germany. Yes, it was to keep people in, not out, but the idea of creating a symbol of limiting personal freedom is objectionable to me.

There are good reasons for and against “The Wall.” i can see the logic of both.

And folks, i’m within days of living here three-quarters of a century. i’m tired of rigidity. i’m sad my friends can’t communicate and resolve real problems when both have good points.

And i want to live the rest of my life living a good life, not reacting to the crazy, illogical current state of politics.

i plan to do that. Thank you, Jane for allowing me to consider the situation and review my opinion. For everyone else:

Have at it.