A good marriage is a lifetime of hands. It's a shaking hand sliding a shiny gold band onto the finger of another shaking hand. It's an anxious hand tugging on a suddenly shy hand. It's hands touching in sudden tenderness, or swinging together down a crowded street, or fingers interlocking in the darkness of a theater. It's expressive hands: the playful pat on the fanny, the beckoning wave, the rumpled hair, the "Help me please" gesture and sometimes, but not often, the clenched fist. It's two ecstatic hands being grasped by tiny brand new hands. It's hurrying hands setting dinner for hungry hands. It's an optimistic hand patting a discouraging hand. It's a panicky hand clutching a calm hand. It's joyous hands grabbing happy hands, and hands sharing sadness with a touch. It's healthy hands holding sick hands. It's a strong hand supporting a grief stricken hand. It's also tear stained hands entwining other tear stained hands. It's hands joining in prayer. And, finally, it's a shaking hand sliding a dull gold band off the finger of a very still hand. Love, Edith and Richard Loehwing