10 Years

On May 23, back in 1998,I stood out on a wooded hill behind a church in New London, MN. I actually spent quite a bit of time waiting on that hill that day. First to see Shelly for the first time in her dress. Because the whole modern picture taking tradition has pretty much taken away the special moment of seeing each other for the first time, we carved out time specifically for that on the hill before photography.

Later, I stood on that hill alone, waiting to go into the side of the sanctuary for the ceremony from outside. The music seeped through the windows and a crack in the door and it all started being very real to me.

Now, 10 years later, many of the details of that day: the ceremony, the dinner and reception, the dance in the barn are all still vivid. The day both seems as only yesterday and a long time ago.

That one specific day is something we celebrate each year as its anniversary passes. However, that one day actually fades in the face of the ~3650 that we've spent since as husband and wife.

We've lived in many places, had some of the sickness and the health, been richer and poorer and had our fair share of better and of worse. We've both remained stubborn in some habits and personality traits and changed wildly in others.

In the vows I wrote for my part in the ceremony, I talked about how we were poised at the beginning of a journey as traveling companions. Now, 10 years later, I can say that, with a good start on that journey, I could have no better person with whom to share the trek and I'm looking forward to where the next 10 years and beyond bring us.