It's Not Just Kids That Make You Feel Old

The day was Feb 3rd. An unlikely day for a wedding. I still remember the getting up early, yet still being late to the church. We changed into everything there. I remember slipping on the sweet ballet flats that my Dad helped me decorate with peach coloured ribbon roses and some hot glue. My parents gave me my wedding pearls. Moose gave me my "something blue". I forget where i got the penny for my shoe, but it also covered the "borrowed" rule. Moose in his tux!! He cleaned up good! The laughter that filled the church when Moose spun around and saw me for the first time in my dress. He was sooo adorable and i am so glad there was a picture of his face that captured the moment.

There was a great buzz with the wedding party--Moose was the first of his siblings to get married. I remember his sisters so excited to have another sister in the ranks. His younger brother standing on the stairs behind me as we all were readying to walk down the aisle, teasing me about the typical cold feet feelings just before one "takes the plunge"--he was pointing out the back door to the place and i was reassuring him that he might need to hold me back as i was ready to run out into the church and "get this over with--I Do Already!!!". My dad in his tux (the only time he's ever worn one.) My mom in her beautiful emerald dress. Both walking me down the aisle, and having this great pause....when we looked up and we realised that half of the church was standing room only with Moose's family, and in the other half of the church was three little half-pews of my relatives and close friends scattered throughout (remember the wedding scene in My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Yeah, just like that!) I remember our dear friends reading. Clinging on to each other's hands while saying "I Do's", just wanting to be done with all the people staring at us. :o) Signing our certificate on the alter in lieu of sloppy wedding ceremony kisses. Recreating a ceremonial kiss for the photo album. :o) Leaving the church and my uncle driving us through the old city cemetary to bide time before the reception. The perma-grin on my partner in crime, MacD's, face--she was also so excited because she was also on her first date with the gent who she is proudly married to now. She kept me sane. Jules kept me confident. Come to think of it, my sis in law brought her date who is now her hubbie, too.

Moose and i couldn't have picked better "wingmen" in the two friends we had by our sides that day. His best man offering to dump my glass of champagne after the toasts and refill it with beer. Thank God!! Wonderfully entertaining speeches that oozed love from them too. Dancing with Moose like we had actually learned something at our dance lesson. :o) We had really good salad and tortilini and we were both bummed we couldn't have seconds, let alone finish our firsts! Sad that our reception only lasted a couple hours, but excited to get to the reservations at the B&B that was an old 1880's Victorian Farmhouse. I think the only time we were more tired than our wedding day was the day we brought Cookie Monster home a year and half later. The next day we got to spend hours with our friends and family at what would be our new home, relaxing and chatting. The morning after that.....zooooom, we were off to Ireland.

I remember most of it like it was yesterday. Doesn't that count for something? What i can't believe is that it has been 9 years!! 9 YEARS, PEOPLE!! It seems like it's been forever....and looking back makes me feel so old (how pathetic is that, eh?) I can't even imagine what it will feel like when we've been married for 20 years. Sheesh! I can picture it though...there is this card at our local natural foods store that has an elderly couple standing at the sink--the husband in his wifebeater and boxers and in her floral nightrobe--the husband is drinking his glass of water and the wife is grabbing his bottom. That's so gonna be us--on our 40th. :o)

It's the little everyday quirky things that are the cherries on the sundae, eh? Moose thinks its the funniest thing when i talk with my hands and loves the sound effects i make when i'm just physically too tired to think of how to say something. I love that when he gets so tired or overwhelmed, he gets really goofy and cheezy comments pour out of his mouth. He's one of those types of people who looks in the mirror every morning, combs their hair, and then shrugs. I love that about him!

Congrats, Moose! We've put up with each other for 9 years so far and to tell you truly, there isn't anyone else i would rather spend the rest of my life with trying not to drive each other too bonkers. I *love* you!