Seven Years.
Seven years ago today, Chris and I got married.
No, no, it hasn't been seven years since that oh-so-drama filled ceremony shown above (sorry, that really is about the best picture I have - two photographers, both family, declined to help at the last minute. My wedding pictures were taken with a regular ol' 35mm camera, dudes). No, it's been seven years today since our beautiful, private elopment.
We'd just moved in together in Cincinnati. I was five months pregnant with Lorelei. I'd just begun to recover from an infection in the balance center of my brain - two weeks of nonstop vertigo wherein if I was awake, the room was spinning, and I was sick. I spent most of it knocked out on large doses of Phenegren, but that day I was finally starting to feel better...the world was just occasionally tipping on me instead of spinning wildly out of control. I'd asked Chris to marry me one day before I'd gotten sick...(this is the cheesy part of my story, so bags at ready)...he'd been looking into my eyes, and said he could see himself reflected there. I told him I wanted him to see himself reflected there for always...I wanted him to marry me. So he'd decided that as soon as I felt better, he was going to make me his wife.
I was actually really, really scared, because we'd known each other a grand total of seven months. I was so afraid he and I would end up like my first husband and I, that he was only marrying me because we were pregnant, and that's not at all an experience I wanted to repeat. What I couldn't understand then was that he was marrying me because he loved me...despite having seen me at my drunkest (the weekend we met), my sickest, despite having to wait on me hand and foot, he loved me. He wanted to marry me. But I didn't understand that then.
The day before, Chris took the afternoon off work and we drove to Columbus to get a copy of my divorce decree. Chris and I were always taking these long, rambling drives when we were first together, so this was just like another one of those. We had dinner together, we talked about everything and nothing...on the way back, we stopped in Washington Courthouse to buy wedding rings. Both white gold (my favorite metal from a childhood memory), both plain simple bands. No engagement ring, although I've promised to provide him with one someday. ;o) We did a little shopping, being silly, enjoying each other's company, and then we went home to get a good night's sleep.
The day of the 14th was a bright, beautiful spring day. It had started to get warm - 60's, 70's - and it was sooooooooo sunny. That bright spring sunshine that makes you blink because it's so bright, that spring sunshine you can't help smiling at. The grass and the tree leaves were bright newborn green and the flowers were all budding so there were pink trees and white trees, and they just looked so amazing against that brilliant blue sky. There was a gentle breeze blowing. What I'm saying is, it was gorgeous.
I wore a white maternity top with a wrap around front - it had pastel embroidery flowers growing up the sides of the front - and jeans. He wore one of his short sleeved button down shirts and jeans. We went to the courthouse in Hamilton, just north of Cincinnati. Chris always calls it Hamiltucky...it's the area where less fortunate folks tend to take residence, and it's a bit backwards. Like walking into a town from 60 years ago. We went to town hall, this big ol' fashioned square building in the middle of town that looked more like an beautiful old library than a goverment building. We went in to apply for our license.
I remember they have to ask you a million questions about being second cousins or whatever, stuff that would preclude you from getting married, and Chris kept answering the wrong way with a very serious face...which would make me laugh at him, hit him in the arm, and say, "Shut up!" We kept making the clerk laugh and grin at us. When we were all finished, she smiled at us and told us she thought we'd be together for a very long time. She'd seen a lot of couples, she said...we had that special something. I remember that made me blush, and Chris laughed at me. He asked where we could get married...now. The clerk was taken aback, "Oh...today? Like, right now?" Yep, right this instant he said. :o) She made a couple of calls, found us someone nearby and off we went.
It was right across the street, so we just walked. It was lovely to walk arm in arm with my soon to be husband, and while the world was still trying to swirl on me from time to time so I'd have to stop till it all got settled again, he never rushed me. We went into a building across the street, and told a receptionist in a very 70's kind of dark brown leather office what we were there for. She sat us in a conference room with glass walls, and told us someone would be right with us. We were sitting, chatting and laughing when the gentleman came. He asked if we wanted to stand, or just stay seated. Chris was confused, "What are we supposed to do?" The man said, "It doesn't matter, however you're comfortable." I didn't get vertigo when I was sitting anymore, so Chris said, "Uh....ok, we'll just sit then."
And we did. We sat there for the next maybe 10 minutes, listening so hard to this man who was reading vows, and repeating after him. We exchanged rings. To this day, neither one of us could tell you what that man said, or what we repeated. Then it was done. We were married. He fiddled with some papers, handed us a packet, wished us well and we were on our way. I remember thinking..."OH, my GOD. My name is Theve. This man is my husband." We were so new to the relationship, and I just felt caught in a whirlwind...and I was so immensely happy.
I do know that when we got to the car, I was mock-pouting. Chris asked me what was wrong, and I said, "He didn't make you swear to provide for me!" He laughed and said, "Yeah, he left out the part about obeying, too." I made a deal with him...I'd vow to obey him if he'd vow to provide for me. Seeing how my first husband had loathed and detested the whole providing for his family, I figured that was as bad as obeying someone. ;o) He agreed, and said I should go first, which I did. Then I prompted him to say his vow...he laughed and said, "I told you I'd say it...but I didn't say WHEN I'd say it! HA HA! You swore to obey!!" This is still an inside joke with us...I'll tell him I'm going to kill him or that I'm going to do whatever I wanted to do, and he says, "YOU SWORE TO OBEY!" I tell him my agreement was null and void because we had a verbal agreement to exchange vows, and he never said his. He says he never saif WHEN he'd say his! And I tell him when he says his, our contract will be in full effect and I will begin obeying him...although he and I both know that's a load of pooh. ;o)
April 14th, 2000 will always be our special, magical day. I love you, gweedeauxsl33t. Happy Anniversary.
PS: From left to right, that's catscure and orionsafari; my SIL who was my matron of honor and Chris' best friend Brian; Chris and I with Geoff and Cat in front; candledamachine and Chris' marine friend, Matt; Lorelei's godfather Rich and tweezlebum. And a weeeee little bit of Lorelei's head in the front left corner. ;oD