Ten Years

Ten years ago today I married the man of my dreams. He’s kind, generous, intelligent, funny, reliable, analytical, witty, super handsome and can ride the heck out of a longboard. He’s the man I met right out of high school. We were friends at first and then eventually started dating. We dated for ten years before we decided to take the plunge into matrimony.

I’m not the easiest person to share a life with and I think sometimes Jon wonders what exactly he’s gotten himself into. Once, years ago before we were married, I vowed to become a beatnik. I told Jon that I would wear nothing but black skirts with black opaque tights, black turtleneck sweaters and black beret -- he chuckled but was okay with it. Then, when I said that I wanted to start attending hipster poetry readings wearing said beatnik garb and that I would snap my fingers in applause rather than clap my hands, he said, “Go for it -- knock yourself out.” I knew this was the man
for me.

On the day of our wedding I arrived at the venue where the wedding and reception would take place without my wedding dress. Hysterical, I bolted out the front door with bridesmaids trailing behind me as I screamed in panic, “I FORGOT MY WEDDING DRESS!” My dear friend and bridesmaid drove me back to her house to pickup the wedding gown left hanging on her bathroom door. While I was out collecting my gown everyone started to wonder about my whereabouts. My father, who hails from the great state of Alabama turned to my future husband and said, “Welp, I guess she done run off.” Now by this point, I’m unsure why Jon decided to go ahead with the ceremony. There I was, a crazed forgetful bride with aspirations of becoming a beatnik, and my father who apparently had no qualms about me run’n off. By all appearances, me and my family had nothing to offer this man and I’m surprised he went through with marrying me. I’m sure at times he’s wanted to run off, and instead he's kept his head and stayed on for the ride. And what a ride it has been.

Our journey together has not always been easy as I’m sure many of you can attest – marriage is not always gumdrops and rainbows, sometimes it’s slamming doors, yelling and pouring a stiff drink at the end of the day, but the majority of the time, we love each other. We cherish our time together and try to make the most out of each day. As a result of our marriage, we’ve managed to produce two lovely girls who sometimes distract us from each other and other times brings us closer together.

The one thing I know for sure is that my husband will always be there for his family. He loves us unconditionally and has been the husband and father of my dreams. I’m so happy to have arrived at today. During our twenty years together, I never became a beatnik, and I only ran off one time. Hopefully my husband will have the strength to put up with me for several more decades to come.