Story of a Marriage

Experience 50 Years of Christmas Love Letters-A Chronicle of Devotion, Struggles, and Enduring Love. When Marilyn, Jim McCormick's wife, was nearing the end of her life, he asked where she had kept the Christmas love letters he had written her since their first holiday together in 1968. In a faint voice, she revealed they were tucked away in a box on a high shelf. Panicked when he couldn't immediately fi nd them, Jim feared losing the chronicle of their life together- year by year, letter by letter. Over five decades, his words captured the sweetness of newlywed days, the joys and trials of raising children, moments of strain, heartfelt apologies, shared faith, adventures, and the experience of growing old together. Thankfully, their son, David, located every single letter. Rereading them was both gratifying and tearful. Encouraged by friends, Jim decided to share this intimate and deeply personal account of a committed marriage with those who might fi nd comfort and inspiration in its pages. In Story of a Marriage, Jim McCormick offers a raw and authentic tribute to his wife-his own "poor man's Taj Mahal." This collection of love letters is a journey from young passion to enduring devotion, revealing a marriage built on faith, resilience, and the choice to love, even through life's challenges. PRAISE FOR STORY OF A MARRIAGE "This is a love story that made me both cry and laugh out loud. It transcends youth, beauty, age, money, and power. A timeless and ageless tale that will warm your heart and soul."-Lisa Havens, LMSW (Licensed Master Social Worker) "Jim and Marilyn's love story in letters reads like good fiction-only better, because it's real. A courageous tribute to a marriage founded not just on attraction, but on friendship and faith." -Gina Aranki, Executive Director, Child and Family Services of Northwestern Michigan "This collection of Christmas letters inspires and testifies to the power of choosing love despite life's challenges. A blessing to newlyweds, struggling couples, and those grieving the loss of a beloved partner."-Toni Stanfield, MS LLP, Psychotherapist, Life Transitions Counseling "From the moment they met at a social justice meeting in Detroit to his final letter after her passing, Jim McCormick's love flows through these pages like a powerful river. An unassuming, honest voice shedding much-needed light on the importance of faith and trust in God and one another."-Jim Olson, author of People of the Dune, Michigan Council of the Arts Writers Award recipient, and Michigan Lawyer of the Year