15

15 years ago today...

I did not have the ability to see past Wayne. My future did not exist without him in it. Every move I made, every intention I had, was with him in mind. Nothing else mattered but him. He was my everything.

15 years ago today I said, "I do."

I do to good times and bad. Richer or poorer. For better or worse. Sickness and in health.

I do.

Not being able to predict what the future would hold for us, we went forward with the nativity of a (very) young couple, looking for our way in the world. We worked hard. We played hard. We laughed ... we cried. We celebrated and we fought. Sometimes we agreed - and sometimes we did not. There were years that flew by in an instant and there were years in which everyday was counted ... hard won.

There is a lot of living in 15 years' time. Each and every one of them is a precious gift that I will hold tightly for all my life. I think of our victories: having children after wondering if it would happen for us, our educations, success in professions, lifelong friendships, and the closeness of family... each a victory to be celebrated. Cherished.

And here we are. 15 years later. Not a Cinderella dress or tux to be found. No flowers or music or sparkling champagne. The intoxication of new love has ebbed into a solid, mature love. The kind of love I know to be real. To be counted on.

And while all that may seem different than how it started, it isn’t. The truth is, the young girl who looked at her husband, her Everything, and said ‘I do’ is still here. I always will be. Shiny or not. Fancy or not. Celebrated today or tomorrow, that precious love I hold for him has not changed. It’s as pure as it was then.

A forever ‘I do’ that just happens to be at number 15.