As far as I know we don't have a single wedding picture on our computer. We got married in the years before digital cameras and snapfish.com. So I have no picture to document it (except in a big box...), but here you go, Ike. My letter to you and to all the people who read this who probably would rather see pictures of the kids. :)
Nine years ago at this very minute, I was most likely finishing up my dad's pancakes (my dad loves to make pancakes. When I was younger I didn't get that, but now I do. On weekends when I want to give my family a comfort breakfast, I make pancakes too) and preparing to hop in the shower. The bride and her entourage always have to get to the church super-early, so I'm sure I was running a little late.
Today at this very minute, I am checking my email and watching the baby pull things out of the trash can in your office. Incidentally I'm also just about to hop in the shower, but I'm not running late for anything.
What has happened in nine years? Well, as it turns out, nine years is a long time in the world. Think of how much has changed. New president, new gas prices, new terrorism alert... When we got married, there was no code orange or yellow, unless you were talking about the pollen count. Nine years ago, the whole world was just a little more innocent, although I don't think anyone realized it at the time.
We were certainly a little more naive, I think. I had just graduated from college, you had only been out a year. We had crappy jobs at the mall, but we were happy because it meant we could eat lunch together every day. We rented a house in Winston next to two good friends. All of our friends were getting married either the same year we did or the next. A couple of those marriages wouldn't make it, but we had no idea of that at the time. We had one small puppy, who quickly became a big damn dog...one who preferred eating walls to eating dog food and who licked directly from our plates.
Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.
How have we changed? Well, we've both had the opportunity (and passed on the chance) to go to our 10-year high school reunions. This year marks ten years out of college for you. We've gotten better jobs, yours with great hours and benefits, mine with never-ending hours but benefits better than any job outside the home. Who knew this Women's Studies major would decide to stay home with her kids? I'm grateful for the freedom to choose this for our kids. We don't get to eat lunch together every day anymore, but we eat together at night, with a baby who drops more than she eats and a 5-year-old who says, "Yuck, I'm not eating this!" to everything on his plate.
We own our first home and have been here three years. We love it, but we're already seeing that we will outgrow it in a few years. We still have friends getting married and fortunately, we're not seeing nearly as many marriages end. A few friends have had children and we've made new friends with children as well. (A few friends need to get on the ball on this kid thing, by the way, not naming any names...you know who you are.)
We still have two dogs, but they don't live with us right now. We also have two beautiful children, who've enriched our lives more than I realized possible. Neither of them eats through walls, but I think the baby would gladly try dog food if given the chance. And she'd happily lick our plates... :)
Now we are in our 30s. What does that really mean, when in some ways we feel like we're still 21? But...we're also a little more tired than we were then. And happier being home with a movie or a good book.
Friday night was the perfect anniversary date in my mind. We had a chance to try a new restaurant, then go downtown to what in my mind is the best city for us. Not too big, not too small. We had a wonderful dessert, got to hear live jazz, got to daydream about when we'll be able to do that sort of thing every weekend... We got up Saturday to go to breakfast and both read the paper. Well, I read the paper out loud while you tried to read it on your own.
Silly boy. Don't you know by now that I like to talk?? :)
We've survived mornings, childbirths, poverty, bad cooking, lawncare... Hell, we've had an easy life.
It's easy to have an easy life when I'm married to my best friend. I love you. Thank you.
Nine years ago at this very minute, I was most likely finishing up my dad's pancakes (my dad loves to make pancakes. When I was younger I didn't get that, but now I do. On weekends when I want to give my family a comfort breakfast, I make pancakes too) and preparing to hop in the shower. The bride and her entourage always have to get to the church super-early, so I'm sure I was running a little late.
Today at this very minute, I am checking my email and watching the baby pull things out of the trash can in your office. Incidentally I'm also just about to hop in the shower, but I'm not running late for anything.
What has happened in nine years? Well, as it turns out, nine years is a long time in the world. Think of how much has changed. New president, new gas prices, new terrorism alert... When we got married, there was no code orange or yellow, unless you were talking about the pollen count. Nine years ago, the whole world was just a little more innocent, although I don't think anyone realized it at the time.
We were certainly a little more naive, I think. I had just graduated from college, you had only been out a year. We had crappy jobs at the mall, but we were happy because it meant we could eat lunch together every day. We rented a house in Winston next to two good friends. All of our friends were getting married either the same year we did or the next. A couple of those marriages wouldn't make it, but we had no idea of that at the time. We had one small puppy, who quickly became a big damn dog...one who preferred eating walls to eating dog food and who licked directly from our plates.
Yuck. Yuck. Yuck.
How have we changed? Well, we've both had the opportunity (and passed on the chance) to go to our 10-year high school reunions. This year marks ten years out of college for you. We've gotten better jobs, yours with great hours and benefits, mine with never-ending hours but benefits better than any job outside the home. Who knew this Women's Studies major would decide to stay home with her kids? I'm grateful for the freedom to choose this for our kids. We don't get to eat lunch together every day anymore, but we eat together at night, with a baby who drops more than she eats and a 5-year-old who says, "Yuck, I'm not eating this!" to everything on his plate.
We own our first home and have been here three years. We love it, but we're already seeing that we will outgrow it in a few years. We still have friends getting married and fortunately, we're not seeing nearly as many marriages end. A few friends have had children and we've made new friends with children as well. (A few friends need to get on the ball on this kid thing, by the way, not naming any names...you know who you are.)
We still have two dogs, but they don't live with us right now. We also have two beautiful children, who've enriched our lives more than I realized possible. Neither of them eats through walls, but I think the baby would gladly try dog food if given the chance. And she'd happily lick our plates... :)
Now we are in our 30s. What does that really mean, when in some ways we feel like we're still 21? But...we're also a little more tired than we were then. And happier being home with a movie or a good book.
Friday night was the perfect anniversary date in my mind. We had a chance to try a new restaurant, then go downtown to what in my mind is the best city for us. Not too big, not too small. We had a wonderful dessert, got to hear live jazz, got to daydream about when we'll be able to do that sort of thing every weekend... We got up Saturday to go to breakfast and both read the paper. Well, I read the paper out loud while you tried to read it on your own.
Silly boy. Don't you know by now that I like to talk?? :)
We've survived mornings, childbirths, poverty, bad cooking, lawncare... Hell, we've had an easy life.
It's easy to have an easy life when I'm married to my best friend. I love you. Thank you.
3 Comments:
Oh that was so sweet! Looks like you guys had a wonderful 9 years.
Happy Anniversary! Sounds like you had a great time! Here is to 9 + more!
How sweet! Doesn't it just amaze you how much things change in just a few years though? I look back at the plans Terry and I had when we first got married and things are just sooo different now.
Happy Anniversary (late, oops!)
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