40 – Day 594

Wedding Party – Photo: Mr. Willner

40

40. There’s a number that takes me by surprise. It seems like only a couple years ago, Karl and I were asking my parents if we could get married on their 40^th wedding anniversary. I already knew I was going to wear my mother’s wedding dress, so wouldn’t it just be even more of a cool tribute to them – and us – if we celebrated exactly on their day?

It made perfect sense to us. The only hitch was that Mommy and Daddy’s anniversary was in October and I wouldn’t be graduating from college until the following May. Seven months away.

Turned out my father wasn’t too keen on that idea, so it didn’t happen. We waited. I graduated from college in May and we got married in June. Ah, young love.

Family

I’m the youngest of my siblings, and they were all married while I was growing up. I’d been in each of their weddings, graduating to a new level in each one: flower girl, junior bridesmaid, bridesmaid and, well, bridesmaid again. (I never was anyone’s maid of honor – although I was my maid of honor’s matron of honor three months after my own wedding. I’d say that counted double.)

I’d grown up adoring my siblings – and their partners – and I could not imagine having to choose one over the other. I loved my sisters and brother so much that I wanted all of them to be in my wedding as I’d been in theirs. And I wanted Karl’s sisters to be included as well.

But I also had my non-blood family. My friends. My maid of honor and I had been friends since we were about 8 years old. The others had become dear to me in college. I didn’t want to pick from among them, either – but I nevertheless had to pick and choose (to make it an even number) and ultimately had to leave a few out. That never sat right, but I had to do it, and we remained close anyway. Another plank in our foundation.

My point here is that a quick look at our wedding party and anyone can see why our marriage has lasted as long as it did.

We started out with an amazing foundation of love and support. Love from blood and love from heart. They’ve all played a part in holding us together through the toughest of tough times and the most joyful of others.

Family – Friends – Each Other

What could be better than marrying my best friend and creating a family with him over the past 40 years?

On the day pictured above, I now had both friend and family all rolled up into one endearing, frustrating, soulful, thoughtful, loving, maddening, charming, funny (OK, nope; that’s a bridge too far) person. Did I mention gorgeous? Yeah, that too.

I love you, Karl.

(T-517)