This is Dedicated to the One I Love

"You wonder how these things begin. Well, this begins with a glen. It begins with a Season, which, for want of a better word. We might as well call September."

My precious friend John Hallum read those words at our wedding, 14 years ago tomorrow. And while John is no longer with us, I can still hear the sweetness in which those words (From Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt's play "The Fantastiks") were read. Our wedding was a bit rushed. Brian was given orders to Schofield Barracks in Hawaii about 6 months into our relationship. We decided to get married, and pretty much put together, with the help of wonderful family and friends, a wedding 5 months later. We had a couple of minor catastrophe's, but we did it. On a very cool Saturday in September, at the Historic Soldier's Chapel on Fort Meade, Maryland, my darling Grandpa Ernie married us. I wore a white cotton Laura Ashley wedding gown and carried lots of yellow and white daisies. It was a very sweet day.

Now 14 years and 4 children later, we are not without our bumps and bruises. Yet, here we are. We have made each other laugh. We have hurt each other enough that we made each other cry. Yet, here we are. We have watched family and friends as their marriages fell apart, and mourned with them the losses that they felt. Yet, here we are. We have fought, yelled, screamed and pushed each other way too far. We have been through times so bad we barely speak of them outloud. Yet here we are. Each of us has felt pain so deep, the other one could never reach it. We have been through counseling. We have been through moves. We have lost people so close to us the pain was palpable. And yet, here we are.

I don't think there is any magic button for making a marriage work. And ours certainly is not guaranteed to make it. But right now, today, we are making it. And I celebrate that. I certainly am aware of my shortcomings. I know I can be difficult to put up with. But somehow, the planets align and the greatest gift one can be given gets laid in my lap. I am loved. I cannot see into the future. I am perfectly aware of the fact that things happen to relationships. Some people damage the ones they love so deeply, that turning back is not an option. So I am celebrating this past year with Brian as a gift. And I can only hope that the choices we make can give us another year.

And I remember the end to the little monologue my dear friend read 14 years ago...and I have to agree with it.....
"It is September, Before a rainfall,
A perfect time to be in Love."

Happy Anniversary Brian.