Yesterday we threw a 45th wedding anniversary party for my parents. Mom and Dad didn’t want a huge deal, as they really wanted it to be a night to spend time with a small circle of long time, life long friends. The four of us (myself and Anna, my sister and her husband) became the de facto organizing committee for the party. My Dad, in a bit of a surprising move, asked me to perform a set at the party. I of course was honored to sing for them at such a beautiful occasion. As the date drew closer, my dad made a special request: he wanted me to perform the well known Mandarin love song “月亮代表我的心” (The moon reflects my heart) for them. The song carried a special meaning for me: The first day we picked up Taylor from China, the whole group of “new parents” went out for dinner that night at a large Chinese restaurant in Nanjing. It was the first meal we had together with our little girl. At the restaurant, there was a live band singing, and as I held my little girl, the singing was singing that song (月亮代表我的心). I just never knew that it was a special song for Dad as well.
There were many touching moments at the party…old family pictures that we have not seen (thankfully!) for a long time, friends that my parents have not seen in over 10 years came, the grandkids presenting their gifts to their grand parents, just to name a few. But my favorite moment came when I was singing that song that Dad had requested. As I introduced the song, I tried to put my Dad on the spot by asking him to sing it instead. No chance 
But as I was singing the song, Dad sat down beside Mom and sang the song to her. Anna was singing with me and she said she had to look away, because if she looked any longer she would not have been able to finish the song.
Thinking back now to last night, I learned from that moment what made it possible for my parents to have been married 45 years. Both of them are not as healthy and strong as they once were. In fact, mom’s leg was giving her so much pain that she had to shuffle around on an office chair with wheels throughout the night. But they both shared with everyone how much the passing of time had made them treasure each moment they have together. As Dad sang that song to Mom, it was as if he was saying to her, “It doesn’t matter what circumstances we face, as long as you know what’s in my heart, that is enough.” I learned, right there and then, that no one can set out to build a 45 year marriage. You can only build your marriage, from your heart out, one moment at a time.
你問我愛你有多深﹐我愛你有幾分; 請你想一想﹐請你看一看﹐月亮代表我的心
