It was the first year of our marriage and Christmas was coming. What to get for Robert? When I asked him what he would really like, he said he wanted nothing. Nothing! I attributed his attitude to the fact that he was a new Canadian at the time and didn't understand the customs of our country too well yet, but even now, when it comes to presents, he still wants nothing. One pre-Christmas season he made a list of things he didn't want.

All the same, he does get something and that first Christmas was no exception. I started to think about what to buy for him. We lived in Altona and shopping was fairly simple. It was done by the mail order catalog system. Every household had an "Eaton's Wish Book". I got ours out and turned to the men's section. Sure enough, there was a double-page spread featuring men's sweaters. We were on a budget and it would have to be one of the cheaper ones. One of them looked quite presentable in the illustration. It was a long-sleeved pullover with a V-neck. I imagined Robert in it looking debonair in a casual way, a little like prince Philip or perhaps Gary Cooper. Now, what color should it be? I don't know what possessed me to choose orange, unless it was because I was pregnant with Bob and that was sort of weird and wonderful, making me do strange things.

I filled in the order form and took it to Transfer Wiebe. Transfer Wiebe took the papers to the Eaton's mail order house and picked up the goods next day. The customer then fetched it from Wiebe's office in town.

The item I'd bought was made from some stretchy, soft synthetic material, and it was very orange. Oranger than I'd thought it would be, but it was too late to return and exchange it before Christmas. I hoped Robert would like it anyway. It had a character all its own because the instant my good husband pulled it over his head, it developed an odd shape, sagging and twisting around his body, lopsided and off center. It was casual all right, but it didn't remind me of either Prince Philip or Gary Cooper. Somehow it didn't even look new. "I'll get him a better one soon," I promised myself.

That was not to be for Robert fell in love with this garment. He said, "It's soft and loose and doesn't bind me anywhere. As for the fit, it fits fine. It's just what I want. I can even live with the color."

When it wore thin, we had to mend it. Orange yarn was hard to match, and as the years went by it was darned with several colors. Many times I was tempted to lose it or give it to the thrift shop, if they would have it! Yet deep down I knew that I'd better not mess with this sweater because Robert was so attached to it that it became part of his charm. Over the years I've learned to like it too. And this is how it stands to this day. Robert doesn't think he needs another sweater since he has one already.

Of course, the apparel in question is known intimately to everyone in our family, and as new members join us they get to know it as well. It's lucky, also, this sweater. Robert tries to wear it every time he goes fishing, and when he does he catches a fish or two every time. We have scores of snapshots of him standing on his dock by his boat, holding a stringer of fish, and wearing his orange sweater.

Not only does it bring good luck, it has marvellous healing powers. Robert thinks it's the best remedy for a sore back that he knows. When he has a problem, he takes his orange pullover and ties it around his waist by the sleeves. He might even wear it under his jacket in the office. This cure works every time. Robert is a nice husband and gladly shares his sweater with me and ties it around my waist himself when he thinks I need it.

In many ways this pullover is like our marriage, comfortable and familiar. It's cozy and warm on a cold winter's night. And, like the sweater, it has developed a unique shape all its own. It has been mended many times, but it holds together very well, Time has frayed the cuffs and it sags worse than ever through the middle, but it's the only one for us.

Our marriage has also brought us tremendous luck. A beautiful daughter, terrific sons, charming daughters-in-law and three gorgeous grandchildren (later, four). In our forty years together it has often healed our spirits when we were sick, when we mourned the loss of a loved one, and when we were worried and discouraged. And, like the sweater, our marriage cannot be replaced. It doesn't bind us anywhere, and it fits. We need no other.

(Read by Agnes on their 40th wedding anniversary and by Bob at Robert's funeral.)

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