Through the Years

Do you remember what you were doing seventeen years ago? I do. I was at a pre-wedding brunch hosted by my husband-to-be's parent's church club called "Couple's Circle". They had been meeting once monthly for the past 30 years and had a tradition of hosting a brunch whenever any of their children were married. There was much coordinating of schedules between groomsmen and bridesmaids to ensure that John and I didn't see each other at the brunch.

Then I was scooted off to get my hair done and attend to the millions of last minute details that any bride deals with on her wedding day. I remember that the sun was bright and clear that day, and the temperature was amazingly in the low sixties, which is quite high for Ohio in December. (Today we're supposed to be around 15 degrees, with a windchill well below zero, for reference.) Everyone was so happy, and the church was decorated for Christmas and quite lovely with garlands of pine and poinsettias everywhere on the altar. I was supposed to be at the church early to take what photographs we could without John and his side of things, but I was so pressed for time that we barely arrived in time for the *wedding*, let alone *photos*, lol. I remember the wedding planner was beside herself that I had thrown off the way things were supposed to go.

Many things have happened in my life that I couldn't have imagined. We've had ups, and we've had downs. Some really, really looooow downs. Many marriages that cope with a child with autism end up breaking up, but it has just made us more determined than ever to make it. We're all she has, and she needs us together, fighting for her, rather than apart, and fighting each other. I can say this, seventeen years later. I made a good choice. I have a kind, loving man as my husband. He is an amazing father to his children. He is my helpmate and my lover, and for that I am so thankful. Yes, sometimes he drives me nuts and at times I have been deeply unhappy with things he's done (or rather, often, NOT done), but at the end of the day, I am very glad I married him. I think he feels the same way about me. So, Happy Anniversary, honeypot. I love you.