Happy Anniversary

October 4th and 50 degrees out. Trees are at peak color and today promises to be gorgeous. The skies will match the color of the bluebirds which have been migrating through our yard. Eight years ago I was waiting as fast as I could for the sun to rise and the day to begin so I could take my best friend as my husband.

The day was not unlike today. Clear, blue and warm. Friends and family trickling in. A flurry of activity. Laughter swirling through the house and yard. We sat our guests on hay bales out under the creaking tin roof of a hay shed. Cornstalks, pumpkins and canoe paddles were the alter. Clouds of tulle hung from the beams and held strings of tiny white lights. Green fields ringed with fall colors were the backdrop as Mike and I exchanged our vows. Our simple ceremony was christened with tears of joy as friends united their lives.

We celebrated into the night. A tall tower of logs and wood, later to be named "The Burning Tower of Doom", was lit. We danced and ate and drank into the night until Mike, Al and Steven brought everything to a close and sent people to their cars when they started singing dirty Irish drinking songs.

Our honeymoon began the next day. We rented a log cabin on a private lake in Ely. The days were perfect, like today, blue, clear, warm, full of color. As I think back to that day eight years ago my eyes well up and my heart swells. I am as happy today as I was on that day. Our honeymoon has never ended.

Mike is on his bike heading to work. I'll tackle my first day back to work in 6 weeks. I know we both would rather be back at that cabin but the cabin's been sold and we have this life we've made to attend to. Tonight we will be together to celebrate what we have and what we have worked darned hard to make. Small tokens and cards will be exchanged after a meal we will have cooked together. Small tokens of thanks to one another and in appreciation of another year of caring, love, understanding, patience, laughter and love and we will once again celebrate that day.

Happy Anniversary Sweetheart thank you for being my life.

Love, Karen