August 25, 2008
Celebrate
Simon and I don't have a proper anniversary. Our relationship began in what some might call an "unusual" way (okay, more like a tale of Shakespearean proportions), and so there are several times during the year that we kinda sorta half-assedly mark as our Couplehood Milestones. There's the first time we actually met--March of 2002 (which I don't actually remember)--and the second time we met--March 2003 (which I totally remember because I was completely charmed)--and then December 2003 (officially smitten, even though I was newly engaged and he was several years married)--and March 2004 (begin COLOSSAL crush)--and then all the dates that go along with your usual song and dance: broken engagement, yadda yadda, divorce, blah blah, heartbreak and drama and rending of garments and then bliss at last, albeit complicated bliss...you know how it is.
I finally announced him on the blog in September of 2005--three years ago, my god--and even though it would make more sense to reflect on this in a couple of weeks, on the actual anniversary of that post, I'm pretty much over any attachment to having an official Day on Which to Celebrate Our Love, and so here I am, celebrating him, celebrating us, today, because why the hell not? Every day's a fine day for love. (And bacon. And lemon sorbet. And sugary cereal.)
Although now that I've vamped for two paragraphs, I'm not quite sure what it is I want to say. What prompted this train of thought in the first place was that this weekend Simon had to drop off and then pick up something Petaluma that would keep him out of the house all day Saturday, from about 1 to 10 p.m. (with a big stretch of nothingness in between), and I had the option of tagging along or staying home alone to tackle some of the dozens of house chores that I've been fixating on for weeks. The smart choice was to stay home and work, but hey, we're not exactly known for our smart choices when it comes to each other, and in fact those not-smart choices are indeed the very things that have gotten us to this point at all--we're the poster children for making bad decisions, he and I--and so it was that I threw responsibility aside and decided to tag along for the day, not because I could be of any help or because it made sense or was "smart" but because I couldn't stand the thought of him being away so long. Going to work for eightish hours a day is one thing, but staying home on a Saturday for nine hours all alone when I could be enjoying his company? No contest. Maybe it's codependence, but maybe it's also just three-plus-year-old goofy-ass love. In short, merely the thought of him being away all day made me miss him, so I let that be my guide, and thus passed our relatively unproductive Saturday, spent not completing tasks and to-do lists but wasting time and holding hands.
From the get go he was clear about not pressuring me one way or another, but when we finally got home late Saturday night, he confessed, "I'm really glad you came along. I love spending time with you." So that's really what I wanted to say. I love spending time with you too, babe. I always keep it in my back pocket that I never in a million billion trillion years thought we'd make it to this point and I should count my lucky stars every day for the opportunity, and I do. But even without all that drama and history, I'm still just knocked off my feet by how much I love being around you every chance I get. That sparkle you have in these photographs: you've still got it. And I still feel a spark when I look at them. You are a handsome devil, yessiree. In all of these ways and a million billion trillion others, every day is an anniversary and a reason to celebrate. Just keep the pink champagne on ice for another few months so I can share it with you, eh?
Posted by Leah at August 25, 2008 03:41 PMMy dad lives in Petaluma! (That is the most exciting thing about Petaluma, I know.)
This was lovely, Leah. Really.
Posted by: She Likes Purple at August 25, 2008 04:05 PMcheers!
Posted by: SAJ at August 25, 2008 04:13 PMThat was so sweet! Congrats on your relationship, your love, your wombat! Life is good.
Posted by: Christina at August 25, 2008 04:20 PMAww. Cheers to not taking the specialness of your love for granted. It's a gift to be able to appreciate someone that much day in and day out even after years together.
Posted by: water sign at August 25, 2008 04:39 PMWe're the same way, Leah! We usually celebrate Sept. 2 (that's the day in 2005 we officially met), Nov. 28 (the day we finally made out, drunkenly, at the European Parliament in Brussels), Jan. 3 (the day we FIRST moved in together), and Jan. 19 (the day we reunited a year later and decided that yes, we are in this for good). Though usually I just consider Sept. 2 our "anniversary" because, like your history, all the rest of ours is too difficult to explain, ha!
Posted by: Camels & Chocolate at August 25, 2008 09:09 PMWe don't have an anniversary either. Or we didn't and now we do since we were married last Saturday. As it turns out we married exactly 6 years after the weekend trip that sort of sealed the deal. I have never looked at that date as an anniversary and we didn't plan the wedding to take place on that day because of it - it just happened. I have always felt and still feel, just as you, that every day is an anniversary. Cheers to you and Simon - yesterday, tomorrow and on and on.
Posted by: Drew at August 26, 2008 04:18 AMYay for love!!!! You're right, EVERY day is a fine day for love.
My husband and I got off to a less-than-ideal start, too, considering he was seeing someone else. And seriously considering marrying her. So yeah! That was fun!
He and I have known each other for almost 10 years now- 2 as (often tormented) "friends," 2 as boyfriend-girlfriend, and almost 6 as husband and wife. I look back and, like you, sometimes can't believe that it all worked out and that we're so lucky and blessed to be together.
Yay for love and yay for You and Simon and Wombat!!
Aw...CONGRATS! Also: time spent holding hands is never time wasted. A year from now you won't remember those chores you ignored, you'll remember the afternoon you spent together. Sweet.
Posted by: jive turkey at August 26, 2008 05:22 AMI'm so happy that you are so happy. I really do mean that, because when I read this it just makes me smile. Everyone deserves THIS...and so few find it. You are so lucky...and I love that you realize how lucky you are. You remain one of my favorite people :)
Posted by: Stephanie Parnell at August 26, 2008 06:59 AMGoofy-ass love beats housework any day of the week.
I've been reading your blog since the pre-engagement days and you've never seemed more brimmingly happy. Go you.
Posted by: Catherine at August 26, 2008 07:37 AMCongrats ;)
Posted by: Chris at August 26, 2008 07:51 AMSQUISH
Posted by: Emily at August 26, 2008 07:52 AMYou guys are the best!
Posted by: reddirtroad at August 26, 2008 07:54 AMOur anniversary is like that, in that we don't really have one. There is an entire week in June that signifies when we became inseparable and we moved in together in August (which involved crossing a few state lines). We always recognize the general dates, but we haven't picked out a single time to celebrate. This is our tenth year together, so I'm assuming we never will.
Posted by: Melissa at August 26, 2008 07:59 AMI just love you guys.
Posted by: Angella at August 26, 2008 12:41 PMJeez...get a room already!
Next thing you know, you'll be all knocked up and stuff.
I remember when you posted those photos and told us about your new man. So glad things are still going strong and that the home fires are a'blazing.
Posted by: Amanda Brown at August 26, 2008 07:08 PM:-)
My wife and I don't remember when we started dating. It was some time between life sucking and us getting hitched.
Posted by: Texas T-bone at August 29, 2008 03:10 PMWe're both saps, we wanted an absolute date to set for celebration. We met online (I was just looking for friends cause I just moved back to the States and all mine were gone, I swear!) so I thought maybe the date he sent me the first message? Or maybe the day we officially met, less than a week later? Or the day before Thanksgiving when I (shamefully and rather cowardly) called off my trip to spend the holiday/week with the person I'd officially been dating for 4 months, because going would have meant losing out on this new "friend" after knowing him for all of two weeks? Or maybe the day I flew out to LA with him to help him move less than a month later and then finally agreed to move out here with him... or maybe the day I DID move out here within a couple months... I say, celebrate them all, dammit! :)
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