May
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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.
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Beautiful.
Happy Anniversary!!!!!
Here’s to your first decade… may there be many more! :)
Oh, Happy Anniversary you two! I’m all sappy now this morning! :)
They say the first ten are the hardest.
Happy Anniversary
Happy Day!! Those photos definitely show your love growing through the years. Congratulations on making it work.
Happy Anniversary – may your love span many decades!
Beautiful! Happy anniversary!
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!
Better than any Hallmarkian card could have put it.
Congratulations on your milestone. Here’s to many more.
:-)
Happy, happy anniversary!
Happy Anniversary!
You made me CRY.
Happy Anniversary, you beautiful kids.
awwwwwwwwwww! Congratulations, and best wishes for many many MANY more happy and healthy years together!
Happy anniversary!
Happy anniversary you two!
Congrats on 10 years! That’s awesome.
Congrats on 10 years! This was so beautifully written.
So Sweet! Happy Anniversary.
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.
Crying in my office and I sit at the front desk tethered to the phone:)
Happy anniversary!
Ah, this made me cry.
Congratulations. Ten years! Wow.
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.
This was great. Just great, on every imaginable level.
Happy anniversary to both of you. Much love, and many thanks for sharing with us.
happy anniversary, you guys.
So beautiful…both your writing and your family. Congratulations!
Congratulations! And happy anniversary. A decade of growing together is a huge accomplishment–wishes for many more.
It’s no fair – you two get better looking with age! Happy Anniversary and congratulations on a great milestone.
My god, you two are hot. :-) Happy anniversary!
Beautiful. Congrats.
Happy, Happy Anniversary! I wish you many more years of health and happiness together!
*sniff* That was beautiful. Happy Anniversary!
happy anniversary!! this made me teary :) ten years… wow
Still feeling sentimental about our five year anniversary a couple weeks ago, so this really made me goofily happy. Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary! What a wonderful story!
Congratulations!
How sweet! Happy Anniversary you two!
Happy Anniversary to you & John. Enjoy your day.
how so very wonderful to see two people grow together over 10 years. keep on working it, it’s worth it!!
Ten years! SO AWESOME.
Awww… I got teary eyed! Happy Anniversary you two!!
Congrats!!!!
Congratulations and a happy happy anniversary to you both! Loved the “through the years” pics, especially those Betty Page bangs!
Aw, yay. I like you guys.
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. ;)
Happy Anniversary! What you have is rare and beautiful. May it only get better!
Happy Anniversary! You guys are awesome.
Happy anniversary! What a beautiful post, thank you for sharing.
Happy Anniversary!
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!
Congratulations and Happy Anniversary!