Anniversary

Today is our 19th wedding anniversary. To mark the occasion, I thought I would post some memories of life 19 years ago (and a few that are a little older).

• Our first date was December 29, 1984. We both worked at the mall -- S at a one-hour photo development store, and me at a bookstore. Prior to our date, we had only talked on the phone (for a very few minutes). He came by the house at 10pm that night to pick me up (after work), and we went to Shoneys for dessert. We sat and talked for hours -- I think we may have closed the restaurant (they were open late back then).
• Either that night, or right before a date very soon after that, my mom, who didn't know S (neither of us did, really), handed me a quarter as we were leaving the house: "In case you need to call your mother." Remember that story; it will come up again.
• He proposed one year later on December 29, 1986 in the rose garden of Ritter Park. He started out with the phrase, "Everybody has dreams..."
• On the day of the wedding, Mom, Judy (S's mother) and I spent a couple of hours at the house together, getting ready and talking. It was a wonderful "girl time." We had so much fun that we were almost late getting to the church.
• Judy and Mom drove down together, while Dad and I drove down together. As we were leaving the house, I noticed that's Mom's dress was caught in the car door. No one had ever heard of cell phones, so we spent the trip to the church chasing her, honking. Luckily, there was no mark on the dress when we got there. I don't know what she would have done if there had been.
• Steve's aunt, who was the Mistress of Ceremonies, was a couple of hours late. She has very white hair and had done something that morning to turn it purple. She spent a lot of time that morning frantically washing it, trying to un-purple it. No cell phones; we had no idea where she was.
• The carpet in the church at the time was kelly green. Until this morning, the thought never crossed my mind that it was the color of astroturf.
• S escorted his grandmother down the aisle to her seat.
• One of the most memorable moments of my life was standing in front of this man as he promised to spend his life with me. Until that very moment, I had not realized how incredible that would feel. Unbelievable.
• When the ceremony was over, the wedding party recessed to the back of the church and then up the stairs to the balcony to wait until everyone had left the sanctuary so that we could go back in for pictures. At the top of the stairs, S turned around and handed me a quarter (remember that quarter?). I don't remember exactly what he said, but the handing back of the quarter meant that we all knew him well enough now that I didn't need the extra insurance.
• We drove to Wytheville, VA that evening. Other than breakfast, the only thing I ate that day was a pack of crackers from a rest stop vending machine.
• My aunt and uncle owned a house on a golf course on Seabrook Island, South Carolina. We spent a week there for our honeymoon.

It is an enormous, indescribable blessing in life to be married to your best friend. It has made my life full of joy and laughter and love.

Happy Anniversary -- I love you!