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June 19, 2008
Seraphic Wedding Anniversary: 31
Today, June 19, is our 31st wedding anniversary.
I have been in love with my wife Karen since I was 9-years-old and we were both students at Yeshiva of Flatbush Elementary School in Brooklyn.
I have adored and been devoted to Karen for most of my life.
Every morning I wake and say to myself: It's true, Karen married you; together we have built a wonderful life and nurtured a glorious family. We have shared boundless joys and endured tragedy beyond the limits of language. Through it all, our love and friendship has endured and only become stronger, more profound.
Over the past few years, I have been writing a series called How I Married Karen.
It's an outline for a movie that will never be produced. But most of all it's a guide to the complex architecture of love and devotion, a modest attempt to give voice to the endless love I feel for Karen.
For those of you who have never read it, and for those who'd like to read it again, here it is, for the first time conveniently laid out in individual chapters.
I have rewritten a few sections and there are now pictures and several You Tube videos added to the series.
Happy Anniversary, Karen.
Introduction: Seraphic School Days or The Sadist of Yeshiva Flatbush
Chapter 1: The Rabbi's Seraphic Daughter
Chapter 3: Karen's POV on the Seraphic (Pity) Dance
Chapter 6: Seraphic Street Festival Bonus footage: Karen's Side of the Street.
Chapter 7: Karen Meets the Parents—Way Too Early
Chapter 8: Karen's View From Robert's Couch
Chapter 9: Sunday Afternoon Around the Corner From the Park With Robert
Chapter 10: Seraphic First Date
Chapter 11: Seraphic Shakesperian Urges
Chapter 13: Not So Seraphic Sweden
Chapter 14: Karen Meets The Seven Samurai—Sorta
Chapter 15: Karen and Robert Debate About—Get This—Art
Chapter 16: Seraphic Obsession Meets De Palma's Obsession
Chapter 17: How To Lose (Not So) Seraphic Friends
Chapter 18: Karrrrrrrrrren! Bonus Footage: Seraphic Loyalty.
Chapter 19: Robert Enters the Closet—Literally
Chapter 20: Seraphic Psycho—Plus Hitchcock's Great Crane Shot
Chapter 21: Flushing in Brooklyn
Chapter 22: Plan 9 From Bensonhurst
Chapter 23: Not Popping The Question
Chapter 25: Permission to Marry Karen
Chapter 26: My (Very Long) List of Sins
Chapter 27: Stanley Kubrick Plans Our Wedding, Bonus Wedding Pictures
Chapter 28: Negative on the Negatives
Chapter 29: Karen's at City Hall, Where's Robert?
Chapter 31: Beauty and Me, Bonus Photos of Robert & Karen in School
Chapter 33: The Seam, The Sword & Belle
Chapter 34: Karen Out of Context
Chapter 35: High School Confidential
Chapter 36: Be Good to My Daughter
Chapter 37: Seraphic Duel via Rashomon
Chapter 39: Two Tales of the Past
How Karen Feels About How I Married Karen
Karen, my kallah, bride, June 19, 1977
Posted by Robert J. Avrech at June 19, 2008 07:29 AM
Comments
Seraphic Secret is private property, that's right, it's an extension of our home, and as such, Karen and I have instituted two Seraphic Rules and we ask commentors to act respectfully.
1. No profanity.2. No Israel bashing. We debate, we discuss, we are respectful. You know what Israel bashing is. The world is full of it. Seraphic Secret is one of the few places in the world that will not tolerate this form of anti-Semitism. That's it. Break either of these rules and you will be banned.
All the links in one place, excellent.
Congratulations on your 31st and may you have many, many more.
Posted by: pdwalker at June 19, 2008 07:52 AM
Congratulations to you both.
Posted by: thud at June 19, 2008 08:07 AM
Dear Robert & Karen,
May this no-boundaries love of yours forever endure and only grow stronger.
To cherish someone for nearly a lifetime is a blessing; to be cherished by someone for nearly a lifetime is a gift. I'm so glad you both cherish and are cherished by one another.
Happy Anniversary. May you celebrate many more together b'simcha and in good health.
Pearl
Posted by: Pearl at June 19, 2008 08:20 AM
Congratulations! May you have many more wonderful and blessed years together.
Posted by: DrCarol at June 19, 2008 08:45 AM
Mazel tov! Where was the wedding? Meaning, which hall?
Posted by: kishke at June 19, 2008 09:29 AM
I can't believe I wasn't even born when you were married! That explains why it feels like there's always been Robert and Karen...Your love is timeless and your relationship one I hope to emulate someday, along with your parenting.
Mazel tov!
Posted by: Jackie at June 19, 2008 09:58 AM
Mazal Tov!
For everything we endure, it's always good to count our blessings.
May you experience only joy and nachat for all of time...
Posted by: Baila at June 19, 2008 10:16 AM
Congratulations to you both!
Posted by: lplimac at June 19, 2008 10:34 AM
Mazel Tov Robert and Karen! I love your story and I wish you many more happy, healthy, nachas filled years together. I was the Seraphic Reader who asked the question, and I'm honored to have it included in your post.
Happy Anniversary.
MH
Posted by: mata hari at June 19, 2008 10:42 AM
Happy Anniversary Robert and Karen.
Posted by: cruisin-mom at June 19, 2008 12:12 PM
To everyone, thanks so much for all the good wishes. Karen and I deeply appreciate the support of the Seraphic community.
Kishke:
Karen and I were married in the Lido Beach Hotel. That story is covered in Chapter 27: Stanley Kubrick Plans Our Wedding.
http://www.seraphicpress.com/archives/2005/11/stanley_kubrick.php
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.seraphicpress.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at June 19, 2008 01:02 PM
Mazal Tov!
Posted by: Ari at June 19, 2008 01:03 PM
Mazal Tov.
Posted by: Jack at June 19, 2008 02:50 PM
Mazel tov, and a wonderful anniversary!
I can't tell you how affirming and valuable it has been to me personally, to be able to read about an inspiring, healthy, happy marriage story. Everywhere else on this subject either seems to be either doom and gloom or just pale and uninteresting. (I won't go into a "what's wrong with our culture..." rant here, though).
Many thanks for the posts, which have been fantastic, and huge congratulations to you and Karen.
Posted by: Alice Bachini-Smith at June 19, 2008 03:42 PM
Mazel tov!
Posted by: shira0607 at June 19, 2008 08:59 PM
What a wonderful post. Congratulations to you and your lovely wife.
Posted by: GW at June 19, 2008 09:30 PM
mazal tov!
(of a romantic nature: http://agmk.blogspot.com/2008/06/romantic-siddur.html#links
Posted by: Lion of Zion at June 19, 2008 10:08 PM
Mazel Tov
Posted by: gregg at June 20, 2008 04:29 AM
Mazel Tov
Posted by: gregg at June 20, 2008 04:31 AM
Pity it won't be on the screen, but I'm glad that you are sharing the ongoing story with us! Congratulations, and thanks for the wonderful example.
Virgil
Posted by: MAJ Virgil Hilts at June 20, 2008 07:16 AM
Mazel Tov! Hard to believe we just passed 21. I guess we can drink now.
Posted by: psychotoddler at June 20, 2008 07:36 AM
Congratulations!
The photo of Karen placed right above Cyd Charrisse shows an uncanny resemblance-- though of course Karen's "chen" is unparalleled.
Thanks so much for sharing this labor of love with us!
Posted by: Yael at June 20, 2008 01:27 PM
Mazal tov!
I've just gone through and reread most of this story, and I can vividly imagine what a beautiful and inspiring book it would make. So rich and witty, so sad and so sweet; truly, truly a work of art. Have you thought of publishing it?
Posted by: Michal at June 20, 2008 02:21 PM
Happy, happy anniversary!
What an example you set.
Posted by: Jeremiah at June 20, 2008 03:29 PM
Mata Hari:
Your question regarding Karen's reaction to the series was central and it took a keen reader to pose it to us. Thanks so much.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 20, 2008 04:39 PM
Dear Robert and Karen,
Love brought you together as husband and wife.. and gave each of you a best friend for life. I only wish I could be so lucky.
I wish you both a very Happy Anniversary and many more memorable years surrounded by the love of family and friends.
Thanks for sharing that very touching story of how you met and became one.
Posted by: Tamster at June 20, 2008 11:04 PM
Michal:
Karen and I have thought of publishing it. We'll see.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 22, 2008 11:34 AM
You two, too?! Mazal tov! We just celebrated our 31st anniversary on June 12. Here's hoping for many more happy years together for the two of you and the two of us, not to mention the 21-year-old PsychoToddler/Mrs. Balabusta couple.
Posted by: Shira Salamone at June 22, 2008 06:09 PM
Mazel Tov! Its so special to read about such a strong & beautiful love and life that the two of you have shared and created together. May your lives be full of many more years of simcha, nachas and health. For those of us not married, you make our standards quite high! On a different note, I am so sad that I missed the lecture in memory of Ariel b/c I was in NY again this year on the date, but I am hoping to hear it online...did you post it up yet? Mazel tov again on this very special day!!
Posted by: nl at June 22, 2008 09:52 PM
Shira:
Mazal Tov to you and all others who share our anniversary date.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 23, 2008 09:44 AM
Ni:
We hope you find your Bashert. The lecture is not yet up, we we hope to have it posted on the Young Israel website very soon.
Hope to see you at the next lecture.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 23, 2008 09:46 AM
So romantic and lovely. May you have many more.
Posted by: Alice at June 23, 2008 02:13 PM
Alice:
Thanks so much. Best to you and yours.
Posted by: Robert J. Avrech at June 23, 2008 02:19 PM