I woke up this morning and realized that today is the 10 year anniversary of the day I met my husband. I was out at a local reggae club with my girlfreind, and I remember sitting having a drink and this tall handsome man sat next to me and brushed my leg with his (by accident I assume). I looked at him from the corner of my eye, and I remember getting all giddy because he was so good looking and he smelled amazing! Then he bumped my leg again! This time I looked at him and he looked at me and I couldn't stop smiling. That's when he told me I had a beautiful smile, which caused me to giggle like a schoolgirl. He asked if he could dance with me, I told him later becase I had to find my friend. I found my friend out on the dancefloor, and a few drinks later she and I danced and danced and danced some more. I remember thinking I needed to find the hottie that wanted to dance with me, but before I knew it the night got away from me, and I just assumed it was a chance meeting and that was it. Then I looked up, and I saw him across the floor, his eyes scanning the room - was he looking for me? It was too packed to move, but I was hoping I'd see him again before the club closed. At closing time, my girlfriend and I leave with the masses. When we finally made it outside, my tall handsome stranger was leaning against a tree, waiting for me. We exchanged numbers. On our first date we went to Azteca Mexican Restaurant and watched Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon.
This was the beginning. Before our world was forever changed by the tragedy of 9/11, before the war, before the market crashed. Things seemed so simple then. Don't get me wrong, when we first got together, we were both in the middle of pretty major personal problems. But for me, it seemed like all of that just faded away when we were together. I was in love! We did so much together. We went to church together, gave each other pedicures, did yard work together, read to each other, went to concerts and plays, had long talk on long walks. It was magic.
About two years later we were married. It was so beautiful! He the handsome prince, and me the blushing bride. Aside from having my daughter, it was the best day of my life. I remember the excitement and anticipation I felt about our future together. Our life together.
I look back at those days and can't believe 10 years have passed!!! Where did the time go? I can't believe I've spent more than 25% of my life with him. It doesn't seem like it's been that long. I'm a sucker for anniversaries, birthdays, New Years. I guess because I can measure how far I've come, assess lessons learned along the way, and make goals for the next year. So today I thought I'd take a look back and honestly assess my marriage. It is our anniversay after all.
I will never forget that the minister performing our marriage saying "marriage is not for the faint of heart, it's not only good times". I think those are the truest words I've ever heard. We have had really good times, and really bad times. Wonderful vacations all over the world. Times when we wondered if we made a mistake getting married. Times when we held onto each other for dear life. Days of silence. Times of intense passion, as well as the draught to end all draughts. Times when we came through for each other like no one else could, and times when we let each other down in the worst and most unthinkable circumstances. Richer, poorer, sickness, health - it all applies, and it is REAL. It's LIFE. It's BEAUTIFUL.
As I relfect, I realize that I have been truly blessed to have shared the last ten years of my life with him. I've learned so much about myself and life and love. What it really means to love someone. Not just the frilly silly romantic love that we had at the beginning, but also the gut-wrenching, compromising, heartbreaking, day-to-day, beautiful, willing to die for love that only comes with time.
So here's to you babe! This has been quite the adventure!!!! I can't wait to see what the next decade has in store for us. :-)
Love you
