Happy Anniversary, Gregg!

Nineteen years ago today, I was getting ready to take wedding vows with Gregg. He was 35 years old.I was 30 years old.  It’s not my first marriage, but I intend it to be my last. Nineteen years ago, we gathered with our families and close friends in a country church, just a few miles from here. The church dates to the early 1900s, and has been one of my favorites all of my life. You pass it on the way to our family’s property on Bainbridge Island, and it has always been a wonderful landmark, to me, that I was approaching the place I loved best in the world.Gregg’s family.My family.A light moment during the ceremony. That moment of joyful recognition, when you look at each other and think, “We did it! We’re husband and wife!”

Nineteen years ago, we set out on a journey, not knowing where we would be going, but knowing that, wherever we go, we'd be together. Since then, I've enjoyed more unconditional love, patience, calm, stability and freedom than I ever had before. I have laughed and cried, been happy, grieved, angry, frustrated, fulfilled, overwhelmed, overjoyed, encouraged, challenged - all with Gregg by my side.This is possibly the ugliest wedding cake I’ve ever seen. You can’t really tell in this photo, but the icing flowers were purple and pink. I was a tad bit surprised when it arrived, as it wasn’t at all what I had in mind when I ordered it. (We designed the wedding on a very tight budget.)My sister & me. By the way, we don’t think we look alike, probably because our personalities are so different. Go ahead and laugh.A magical moment in front of the condo in Maui. We’ll always be grateful to Dave for introducing us, and to his wife, Cary, for lending us the family condo for our honeymoon! It couldn’t have been more perfect.I love you, Gregg.

Thank you for 19 years of best-friendship and happiness, for being a wonderful partner, love and father. Thank you for being a rock in the bad times and a fun, fabulous, easy-going companion in the good times.