djzyonseven
You know I’m the King of Songs! 👑
With that said, this post had to have that little something extra.
This month marks something special for me.
Thirty years ago this month, I met the man who would become my husband.
And on this date, fifteen years ago, we made it official.
Now that’s a long time in gay years. 😂🌈❤️
Hell, that’s a long time in Str8 years too. 🤣
I was lucky to have met my soulmate.
And like I said in an earlier post, I knew from the moment I met him that he was the one.
As I’ve told y’all before, he completely blew me away the first time I met him.
I was tongue-tied.
And trust me, that wasn’t normal for me.
No man had ever had that effect on me right from the beginning.
Not even my first.
Back then, PJ was still trying to holler at me.
But something inside me kept pointing me toward my future husband.
My instincts were already trying to tell me something my heart hadn’t fully figured out yet.
But eventually my heart followed suit.
Our beginning wasn’t perfect.
We had some rocky roads.
Some steep ass hills.
We had to learn each other.
And honestly, after thirty years together, we’re still learning each other.
I think that’s one of the secrets nobody really talks about.
Love isn’t something you master.
It’s something you continue to study.
Trust me when I tell you, it hasn’t always been sunshine and blue skies.
But it hasn’t been all thunderstorms either.
We’ve just weathered through.
In the areas where I’m weak, he’s strong.
When he’s weak, I’m there.
That’s what partnership looks like.
That’s why I chose Regina Belle’s “After The Love Has Lost Its Shine.“
Released in 1987 on her debut album All by Myself.
The song was written by It was written by the legendary soul singer-songwriter Sam Dees, known for penning deeply emotional, lyrically complex ballads for artists like Atlantic Starr, Gladys Knight, and Aretha Franklin.
It was produced by Michael J. Powell, who was instrumental in shaping the definitive late 80s urban adult contemporary sound.
Most notably directing Anita Baker’s multi-platinum Rapture and Giving You the Best That I Got albums.
Powell also played guitar on the track.
While songs like “Show Me the Way” and “Please Be Mine” received more attention…
This one became a hidden gem among Quiet Storm lovers and true R&B Heads.
And y’all already know.
I’m the King of Hidden Gems. 👑🎶
King Of Songs 👑
What I love about this song is that it doesn’t tell a fairy tale.
It tells the truth.
It talks about what happens after the butterflies settle down.
After real life shows up.
After bills, disappointments, misunderstandings, forgiveness, growth, and maturity enter the picture.
It asks a question that every long-term couple eventually faces.
What do you do when the shine fades?
You polish it AGAIN!
These lyrics have always stood out to me:
‘Cause every time a weak spot
Would appear in this affair
We’d be mending it back together
With tender loving care
A promise to each other
That’s lasted through the years
Is it solid as the first time
‘Cause it’s still alive and well.‘
Man, that’s us.
Thirty years later.
Fifteen years married.
Still growing.
Still laughing.
Still annoying each other.
Still choosing each other.
And honestly, that’s what real love looks like.
Not perfection.
Endurance.
Grace.
Friendship.
Commitment.
And knowing that no matter how crazy life gets, you’ve got somebody in your corner.
Somebody who sees you.
Somebody who knows all your flaws and loves you anyway.
As Phoebe Buffay said on Friends…
He’s my lobster. 🦞❤️
And after all these years, I still feel like the luckiest man in the room.
Happy Anniversary, Michael.
Thank you for thirty years of memories, fifteen years of marriage, and for continuing to write this soundtrack with me.
Here’s to the next chapter. 🥂❤️🎶
– your Terry
#ReginaBelle #AfterTheLoveHasLostItsShine #AllByMyself #QuietStorm #ClassicRNB #SoulMusic #LoveWins #GayMarriage #AnniversaryLove #LGBTQCouples #TheSoundtrackOfWhoIBecame #DJZyonSeven
