Nine years ago today, in the midst of the 2nd worst blizzard in Chicago history, I married the man I love. I'm not one to get sappy (usually), I mean, I don't cry at movies, unless they're really sad, (Shindler's List & Rwanda are really sad folks!), so I can write that first line and not feel sappy. Then again, maybe I'm just defending my sappiness with this long diatribe about my non-sappiness. Ugh, this is not about my sappiness... onward to the point (yes, I have one!).
I remember the night before my wedding, staying in my hotel room with Jennie, the best maid of honor a girl could have, praying that by some miracle the massive blizzard which was stalled over my wedding day would move - anywhere but Chicago! Now I look back and have to laugh - I remember laughing even the day of my wedding. What could I do? It was a blizzard, and heck if that was about to stop me! My personal attendant, Lisa, all 5'1 of her trooped through a field of snow (literally) to get to the church and unlock it, turn the furnace way up, and get the lights on. Our groomsmen were conscripted into emergency car re-arranging so the plow could get the lot cleared. The pastor got stuck in a ditch and was rescued by my father-in-law, and my future grandmother-in-law trucked from a far north suburb to bring me my cake. It was a Herculean effort, and by job - we did it, despite the 22 inches of snow. We got married.
Nevermind that half of my friends from college were stuck only a few suburbs away unable to leave their driveways, and my grandfather couldn't come because of the snow. Nevermind that at one point my father-in-law pulled my husband aside and suggested that if we wanted a honeymoon, we should leave now. =) Ah the memories! Big fat snowflakes, and my big white dress (wow - would I do THAT over!), it seemed fitting. Instead of my 'big fat greek wedding' I had a "Big Fat Blizzard wedding". Still had the same humor! I'm proud to say, that I actually didn't freak out. I was fairly calm (right girls?). Again, what could I do, but hope that the people most necessary for the wedding would arrive. =)
So nine years later, Craig and I have lived in 4 different apartments/houses. Owned 3 pets (two rabbits and one big dog), and have owned more vehicles than nine years should warrant. We've argued over who would do the dishes, and my shoe collection.But all in all - we've had it pretty good.
I'm not sure that I would have imagined myself in this place nine years ago, when the thought of marriage was still more like a dream. We've changed, we've grown up - in some senses a lot, in other's I still feel like a kid. But I think we've changed together, and grown together, to the point that the only one I want to come home to is Craig.
So as I look outside and see the snow blowing up the driveway to drift onto the garage door, I can't help but thank God for my big fat blizzard wedding, and the man I married that day.
Happy Anniversary - Sweetheart, I love you. ;)
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