I was lying down yesterday afternoon, listening to Aspen play & chat with her Hello Kitty figures, and foolishly hoping for a nap. I thought about what I was doing 10 years ago yesterday. And I have no clue :) I know our rehearsal was in the evening, and that we hung out with friends and had an amazing time together. But before that? Nothin'.
I thought about how 10 years ago today, your lousy brothers came in and interrupted my bridal beauty sleep at 7 am with a boisterous, "If we have to be awake, then so do you."
I also thought about how we've watched those same brothers grow from dorky teenagers into responsible fathers and exceptional husbands to their Julias :) And your angry, clench-fisted rebel of a sister is well. . . still kind of a rebel :) But she's not a kid anymore. She's a woman. And my friend.
The morning of our wedding we spent dodging each other. And I am sad for every other couple in the world who doesn't experience the thrill of trying not to see the other person's face in a small town. It kept me jittery and excited for every last-minute errand that needed to be run. At one point, Cristen was even shoving my head down in the car because we thought we saw your car coming at us down the same street. It was such clean, unbridled fun.
Anyway, we did finally get married in the afternoon, but everyone scattered from the reception because the mosquitos threatened to devour every last guest. Then we went to Chicago, which I remember pretty much nothing about-- except being WAY underdressed for the hotel (lol), overpaying the valet drivers, and being disappointed with the Museum of Science & Industry.
We spent our first year working third shift, occasionally surprising each other with homemade breakfasts. Or, better yet, splurging on Maxine's. Mmmm. . . Maxine's :) I loved the morning I staggered out to see my car decorated with a balloon and a Nutrageous bar and a map with directions to my various birthday presents hidden all over town :) Third shift was pretty lame, but I really do have a lot of good memories from that time. I'm sure it had NOTHING to do with being newlyweds or finally being together every day after 3-1/2 years of dating long distance. Nah.
Through the years, we've lived in 4 different places, botched countless home repair "projects," started 3 different businesses (watched 2 of them tank), visited Puerto Rico, burned through every episode of The Office, Arrested Development (twice), Burn Notice, and Prison Break. We went to the THEATER to watch "Finding Nemo." We didn't have kids back then, and we didn't have to take out a small loan to hit up the theater either. There was no Redbox or Netflix. Just Premiere Video. Oh, the money we dumped into Premiere Video :)
We have introduced the world to 3 new spectacular people, and they're all cute. Together, we'll figure out how to help them grow up without too much scarring, Lord willing. Boy do we need help from Him :)
You've come from being a "cute boy" to a man I respect as a father, a husband, and as a leader in general. Sometimes, you drive me up a wall, of course. I don't think anyone could say otherwise about you :) (I'm not perfect either, I know. I know.) But you are amazing. Brilliant. The things you come up with sometimes. . . "simply stunning." ;)
Anyway, 10 years seems like a lot, but with the realization that Aspen is already 6. . . this is actually going too quickly. Our 50th will be here in no time. Hopefully our only vehicle won't blow up at the hand of an incompetent mechanic that year, and we'll be able to hit up Puerto Rico again. Hey, maybe they'll even let me jet ski this time.
Here's to a great partnership-- one that no one believed would make it :)
You, me, & God: Unequal "thirds."
Love you,
Wife
P.S. I can't remember exactly when this shot was taken. But I would guess that I was 16? So probably the summer of 1999. We're both wearing bracelets from each other. *rolls eyes at cute, young love* :)
