A Marking of Time & Lucky Things

Today is our 9th wedding anniversary. Scott, being ever so aware and thoughtful, gave me an orchid to brighten up my work space, brought me chocolates from Jaciva's and Thai food for dinner, and hid a gift certificate for an herbal body wrap under my pillow.

And what did I get for him? Nothing.

I got him nothing for our anniversary because I am simply not as good as he is. I forget. I tend to not be as sentimental, as touchy, as open with others as he is. He is truly my better half and has been for some time now.

I met Scott when I was just 18 and still in high school. I was job hunting and went further out of my way than I had planned to look for work. I ended up in a small CD Warehouse on a whim, looked through albums for a minute and asked for a job. Jason hired me on the spot, much to the frustrations of my male friends who wanted, and had applied for, that job.

I met Scott while training. I didn't like him. I was confused by him. He wore raver clothes, knew his music like no other, and drove a purple Camaro.  Before long, I began to run reports that I knew would take a while to process, just so he would have to stay late while I closed up the store. If we worked together, he always stayed with me.

One night I headed home only to notice the purple Camaro on much of my drive and pulled up next to it at a stoplight. I honked my horn, grinned my goofy grin, and waved, to which I received the same from him. Only his car didn't brake and he bumped into the car in front of him. It caught me so off guard that I sped away when the light turned green.


I had a boyfriend, I was dating other people, it didn't matter. I went on a date and convinced the guy I was out with that we needed to eat at TGIFridays and that we had to sit outside. My date talked at me and I watched Scott across the street closing up the store for the night. I found reasons to visit the store at odd hours or to drive by to see if the Camaro was parked out front.

I finally found the courage to ask Scott out. And I was stood up.

He had dental work done, took some painkillers, and fell asleep, only to sleep through the time to meet.

We went out one night and found ourselves in downtown Oklahoma City. We got caught in the late night park sprinklers and spent the next small eternity running through the water. Dripping wet and laughing, we eventually collapsed and lay there talking and watching the stars. I never wanted that moment to end.

Our time was short as I was headed off to college out of state in August. We met in February. I think this made the time that much sweeter since it was precious. If it worked, great. If not, we had a great time.


And now, here I am eleven years after all of this, and nine years into a marriage with him. He won my heart with, "You have a beautiful soul" and I have tried to live up to that every day since. I have dragged him around the country (four states in nine years), asked him to give up so much on my behalf. He left school and worked an awful job to put me through grad school. I know there were times when my family wondered what he was doing and that he wasn't "supporting" me the way he should, but he always was.


And so, here is my anniversary gift:

Scott, you have made me a better person than I ever could have thought I could be. You show me endless love and you love endlessly. You have given me my freedom and quelled my fears of being held down or tethered because you have never asked or expected anything other than what I can give and who I am.

You have held my hand through hard times, tough times, scary times. You have carried me when I could not. You have cheered me on. You encourage my crazy whims and indulge my strange hesitations. You listen to me, and I mean really listen to me. You laugh with me and lovingly at me. You see me better than I see myself.

I am ever so grateful for whatever brought me into that cd store that day. I am grateful for the long nights, the trips, the sacrifices, the hope, the love, the neverending patience, the wonderful giving and generous spirit, and the ability to call me back from the edge. 

I love that you are not committed to growing up and that you keep me from it. I don't want to grow up; I just want to grow old with you. You are the beautiful soul; the bright spot in my days.

You are my always and forever.

Happy anniversary, my love, my light.

Fly-bys and other fast things

I actually found out that people read this thing. My reaction: huh, who knew?

Scott and I ran into an anniversary recently and I wanted to at least document it in some small way.

On May 20 or 21, Scott made the grand  announcement that he had been unemployed for one whole year. One year! Can you believe it? One year since we left our jobs in Chicago, and now one year since we voluntarily became homeless and traveled around to find a new home.

This year has flown by. I feel like for the years we lived in Colorado, time did not really move. We were in some strange time warp where we would forever be the age we were. But now...now time is making up for that and claiming its due right.

After a year, it's worth thinking back and asking, "Well, was it worth it?" And I chuckle, and admit, "Yes, it was all very much worth it."  We love where we are, who we are, and who we are around. We love the mountains nearby for snowboarding and the wet Pacific coast nearby for getting away from it all. We even love the grey weather.

This summer will be spent on the road again, but much more locally.

(Image from: http://www.outtraveler.com/images/mags/18/portland.jpg)