May

5

Ten years

I met him when we were working at the same company in Corvallis, Oregon. I was tethered by a phone to a front office desk, where I made surreptitious cow eyes at him when he’d stride by once a day to the mailroom.

We moved to Las Vegas in 1999, and on New Year’s Eve he dropped to one knee in the midst of a shower of confetti and celebratory dance floor whoops and in his hand was the most beautiful ring I’d ever seen.

In Seattle we moved from a dilapidated apartment to our first home. A dog joined us, and eventually a baby. We weathered a thousand storms, and at least one excruciatingly dark period from which I never believed we’d be able to emerge with our marriage intact.

We started as an unfettered young couple who partied and drank together every day; we stand together now as two people rapidly approaching middle age but stronger and healthier than ever.

We have two perfect children and a million shared stories.

Recently we sat together in a tiny wood-paneled office and signed the most grown-up documents I’ve ever seen: power of attorney, health care directive, last will and testament. I don’t quite know how to describe it, but as unromantic as the moment was, it nevertheless felt like a renewal of vows. It felt like a serious, loving commitment to our shared life, like the day we stood in front of our family and were declared as husband and wife.

That day—the day we kissed as a married couple for the first time—happened ten years ago today. I have never stopped wondering how I got so lucky. I have never been so sure of having made the best decision of my life.

Happy anniversary, John. I love you so goddamned much.

1999_s

1999_s1

2000_s

wedding

honeymoon

2005_s

2006

2007_s

2008_s

2009_s

2010_s

2011_s

Comments

88 Responses to “Ten years”

  1. Eric's Mommy on May 5th, 2011 8:45 am

    Beautiful.
    Happy Anniversary!!!!!

  2. JennB on May 5th, 2011 8:46 am

    Here’s to your first decade… may there be many more! :)

  3. Melanie on May 5th, 2011 8:49 am

    Oh, Happy Anniversary you two! I’m all sappy now this morning! :)

  4. Pete on May 5th, 2011 8:52 am

    They say the first ten are the hardest.
    Happy Anniversary

  5. Christine H. on May 5th, 2011 9:01 am

    Happy Day!! Those photos definitely show your love growing through the years. Congratulations on making it work.

  6. lindsayc on May 5th, 2011 9:02 am

    Happy Anniversary – may your love span many decades!

  7. Kristen on May 5th, 2011 9:04 am

    Beautiful! Happy anniversary!

  8. Courtney on May 5th, 2011 9:08 am

    Aw damnit! Of all the days to wear mascara on my bottom lashes; now I’m crying into my coffee.

    Yay for marriages that began at work. Mine did. And only 9 months into, I wonder every day how I got so damn lucky.

    Congratulations!

  9. Anne on May 5th, 2011 9:10 am

    Better than any Hallmarkian card could have put it.

    Congratulations on your milestone. Here’s to many more.

    :-)

  10. Melanie on May 5th, 2011 9:10 am

    Happy, happy anniversary!

  11. Nolita on May 5th, 2011 9:15 am

    Happy Anniversary!

  12. Angella on May 5th, 2011 9:17 am

    You made me CRY.

    Happy Anniversary, you beautiful kids.

  13. erica on May 5th, 2011 9:18 am

    awwwwwwwwwww! Congratulations, and best wishes for many many MANY more happy and healthy years together!

  14. Nichole on May 5th, 2011 9:19 am

    Happy anniversary!

  15. Jennie on May 5th, 2011 9:19 am

    Happy anniversary you two!

  16. Claire on May 5th, 2011 9:26 am

    Congrats on 10 years! That’s awesome.

  17. Alyssa on May 5th, 2011 9:28 am

    Congrats on 10 years! This was so beautifully written.

  18. Vicki on May 5th, 2011 9:32 am

    So Sweet! Happy Anniversary.

  19. Ris on May 5th, 2011 9:34 am

    You guys are so darn cute! And damn woman, have you got some nice legs. I mean that in a not-creepy but genuinely nice, encouraging, slightly-jealous way, of course.

  20. Maura on May 5th, 2011 9:35 am

    Crying in my office and I sit at the front desk tethered to the phone:)

    Happy anniversary!

  21. Lawyerish on May 5th, 2011 9:35 am

    Ah, this made me cry.

    Congratulations. Ten years! Wow.

  22. Shelly on May 5th, 2011 9:37 am

    That engagement photo gave me goosebumps! Beautiful.
    You two are an amazing couple, and just from the photos I can see how effing much you love eachother!
    Awesome.

  23. jonniker on May 5th, 2011 9:39 am

    This was great. Just great, on every imaginable level.

    Happy anniversary to both of you. Much love, and many thanks for sharing with us.

  24. heather on May 5th, 2011 9:39 am

    happy anniversary, you guys.

  25. jen on May 5th, 2011 9:42 am

    So beautiful…both your writing and your family. Congratulations!

  26. Gaby on May 5th, 2011 9:48 am

    Congratulations! And happy anniversary. A decade of growing together is a huge accomplishment–wishes for many more.

  27. Dana on May 5th, 2011 10:02 am

    It’s no fair – you two get better looking with age! Happy Anniversary and congratulations on a great milestone.

  28. Corey on May 5th, 2011 10:04 am

    My god, you two are hot. :-) Happy anniversary!

  29. Melissa on May 5th, 2011 10:05 am

    Beautiful. Congrats.

  30. Christine on May 5th, 2011 10:14 am

    Happy, Happy Anniversary! I wish you many more years of health and happiness together!

  31. Carmen on May 5th, 2011 10:23 am

    *sniff* That was beautiful. Happy Anniversary!

  32. lisa on May 5th, 2011 10:24 am

    happy anniversary!! this made me teary :) ten years… wow

  33. Halyn on May 5th, 2011 10:27 am

    Still feeling sentimental about our five year anniversary a couple weeks ago, so this really made me goofily happy. Happy Anniversary!

  34. Lisa on May 5th, 2011 10:27 am

    Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful story!

  35. Becky Mochaface on May 5th, 2011 10:32 am

    Congratulations!

  36. Jeanette on May 5th, 2011 10:42 am

    How sweet! Happy Anniversary you two!

  37. Mel on May 5th, 2011 10:44 am

    Happy Anniversary to you & John. Enjoy your day.

  38. rachel pomeroy on May 5th, 2011 10:49 am

    how so very wonderful to see two people grow together over 10 years. keep on working it, it’s worth it!!

  39. whoorl on May 5th, 2011 11:01 am

    Ten years! SO AWESOME.

  40. Allie on May 5th, 2011 11:10 am

    Awww… I got teary eyed! Happy Anniversary you two!!

  41. Becky on May 5th, 2011 11:15 am

    Congrats!!!!

  42. sooboo on May 5th, 2011 11:36 am

    Congratulations and a happy happy anniversary to you both! Loved the “through the years” pics, especially those Betty Page bangs!

  43. agirlandaboy on May 5th, 2011 11:41 am

    Aw, yay. I like you guys.

  44. Marie Green on May 5th, 2011 11:52 am

    Aw, congrats on 10 years, you two! Also, we got engaged on the same day/year! Only… we got married in Sept, 2000. It wasn’t even a shotgun wedding. ;)

  45. Susan on May 5th, 2011 12:12 pm

    Happy Anniversary! What you have is rare and beautiful. May it only get better!

  46. Rebekah on May 5th, 2011 12:20 pm

    Happy Anniversary! You guys are awesome.

  47. jane on May 5th, 2011 12:21 pm

    Happy anniversary! What a beautiful post, thank you for sharing.

  48. Jessica on May 5th, 2011 12:35 pm

    Happy Anniversary!

  49. Shawna on May 5th, 2011 12:40 pm

    Oh my God! Look at those pictures! You guys were children when you got together!

    May I just say that you’ve both grown even better looking as you’ve aged? I’d have to hate you if you weren’t such a great writer, wonderful person, and half of a beautiful couple! Happy anniversary Linda and John!

  50. Tracy on May 5th, 2011 12:53 pm

    Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!

  51. Ter on May 5th, 2011 1:02 pm

    Happy anniversary!

  52. Donna on May 5th, 2011 2:03 pm

    I hope you have 90 more….I can’t believe I’ve been reading you since before you even thought about getting pregnant….I feel like you’re family, I actually have family that I don’t hear from nearly as much, lol, (or like as much)!
    Happy univerisiary!

  53. Charlene on May 5th, 2011 2:03 pm

    Congrats.

  54. adequatemom on May 5th, 2011 2:25 pm

    This brought tears to my eyes. You guys are the BEST. I’m so glad you’ve chosen to share so much of your journey with us! Congratulations, and Happy Anniversary to a truly inspirational couple. <3

  55. Life of a Doctor's Wife on May 5th, 2011 3:11 pm

    This made me all teary. Ten years – so wonderful. Happy anniversary – and may you have decades and decades of happiness to look forward to.

  56. Sunny on May 5th, 2011 3:17 pm

    Congratulations. I think you both hit the jackpot. Happy Anniversary and decades of happiness to follow.

  57. WannabeMommy on May 5th, 2011 3:57 pm

    That is so unbelievably sweet! Congrats on reaching the 10 year mark!

  58. Kelley O on May 5th, 2011 3:58 pm

    Happy Anniversary! You have, and ARE, a beautiful family.

  59. Mary O on May 5th, 2011 4:12 pm

    Yay you guys! And congrats!

  60. Kari on May 5th, 2011 4:13 pm

    As goofy as this sounds, the word that always comes to mind when I think about your marriage?

    Commitment. Every meaning of the word.

  61. Melinda on May 5th, 2011 4:13 pm

    Awwww, I love this! Happy Anniversary!

  62. Melissa on May 5th, 2011 4:52 pm

    Okay I admit this made me tear up. But admittedly everything makes me tear up right now. I just got engaged to the man of my dreams. No better than my dreams, he’s also everything I never even knew I wanted and now can’t imagine living without.

    Happy Anniversary!

  63. Aunt Linda on May 5th, 2011 5:00 pm

    Ten years? No. Only yesterday, right? Time is a runaway. Pull back on the reins.

  64. Michelle M. on May 5th, 2011 5:22 pm

    Happy anniversary! What a gorgeous family and what a beautiful story. Here’s to many more years of health and happiness. :)

  65. Jess on May 5th, 2011 5:30 pm

    Happy Anniversary! this was such a great post. I absolutely loved it and the photos. You guys seem like such a wonderful couple!

  66. Tara on May 5th, 2011 5:32 pm

    Reading this felt like celebrating the anniversary of very good friends. I’m so happy for you, and impressed by all you’ve done to not only make it work, but make it GREAT, for the two of you and your boys. Happy anniversary!

  67. Lisa on May 5th, 2011 6:37 pm

    So happy for you both! And I agree, he is the best decision you have made, and you are, easily, John’s best decision. You are both lucky to have one another and recognize that fact. Love seeing those photos and John looks like a baby in the engagement picture!

  68. Chelsea on May 5th, 2011 6:52 pm

    Congrats!!

  69. julia on May 5th, 2011 7:49 pm

    Happy, happy day! May the next ten years be even better.

  70. j3zmund on May 5th, 2011 8:22 pm

    Happy Happy!

    Someone decided to give you a gift by posting one of your pics on Reddit. I’m sorry (it wasn’t me).

    Hopefully it’ll boost some ad revenue or something for you.

  71. Victoria on May 5th, 2011 8:23 pm

    Happy Anniversary to two of my most favourite people I don’t even actually know :)

  72. Catriona on May 6th, 2011 2:04 am

    Happy anniversary!!

  73. PattM on May 6th, 2011 5:24 am

    Happy Anniversary to both of you!

  74. Yogamomma on May 6th, 2011 5:25 am

    Awesome and LOVE the pictures! Congrats!

  75. Mare on May 6th, 2011 6:14 am

    Happy anniversary. Auguri! What a lovely tribute to 10 years. Congratulations.

  76. bessie.viola on May 6th, 2011 7:10 am

    Wow, I’m all unexpectedly teary over here. What a beautiful life you two have built. Congratulations on ten years!

  77. dorrie on May 6th, 2011 7:23 am

    Happy Anniversary! I am just sad that you didn’t use that, um, special picture you took that one time you guys went camping…you know, THAT one??

  78. Stephanie on May 6th, 2011 7:36 am

    This is absolutely beautiful and gave me chills.

    Happy Anniversary!!

  79. frannie on May 6th, 2011 12:10 pm

    What is in your water???? Both of y’all just get better and better looking as time goes on in those photos!

    Happy Anniversary!

  80. Virgnie on May 6th, 2011 5:28 pm

    Delurking to say that baby Dylan, in his pj, is the cutest thing that ever lived. And happy anniversary!

  81. velocibadgergirl on May 6th, 2011 8:55 pm

    Happy anniversary! (that beach waiter is the most hilarious thing I’ve seen in weeks, btw)

  82. Anonymous on May 7th, 2011 7:49 pm

    wanted to shoot you a note- one of your pictures is on buzzfeed….
    http://www.buzzfeed.com/gustonyc/meta-photobomb-2nz2

  83. Frannie on May 7th, 2011 10:12 pm

    A truly beautiful post. Happy Anniversary and Mother’s Day!!!

  84. Philip on May 8th, 2011 1:55 pm

    So nice. Congratulations and happy anniversary!

    The proposal photo is really great. Did you have friends there who took that for you?

  85. Rachael on May 9th, 2011 6:45 pm

    CRYING!!!

    Don’t know why.

    But Happy Anniversary!

    Isn’t true love grand?

  86. Erin@MommyontheSpot on May 10th, 2011 4:38 am

    What a beautiful post! Congratulations!

  87. Eliza on May 10th, 2011 2:18 pm

    Beautiful. Oxo.

  88. Jessi on May 11th, 2011 7:26 am

    Happy anniversary! You two look amazing for almost “middle age”

    (We were also in Vegas that year and I was also proposed to. 10 years in September :) )

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