A decade ago today, after taking a couple of pre-ceremony slugs from my best man's flask, I exchanged vows with the woman who would become The Wife. We were married at St. Anthony's in Falls Church, VA. I was a grad student working full-time as tech support at a local ISP, she was a paralegal who'd foolishly followed me some 1500 miles across the country to live (briefly) in sin during our engagement, having taken some pretty long odds that a guy with a Bachelor's in History might actually have potential to be anything but a drunken, hourly wage-earning smartass.
The wedding itself was rather hilarious. The priest was a third stringer; the normal priest we thought we were getting having double-booked and the deacon we liked was going to be on sabbatical, so we ended up with Father Ben. Or as I dubbed him, "The Nigerian Nightmare." His English-speaking was about on par with Fernando Valenzuela, and he'd only ever presided over one other wedding, and that one a full Mass. Luckily, the entertainment that day was a friend from high school who graciously decided to swing down from performing at the Met in NYC to sing at our nuptials. And having many weddings under her belt, she held things together well enough that the entire congregation didn't break out into peals of hysterical laughter.
Just a few chuckles here and there, and most of those from the drunk internet folks I invited.
I can say without hyperbole that the ensuing ten years have been the best of my life. We've gone from sharing a house with three other people and driving a piece of crap Toyota Tercel to owning our own home, becoming pretty damned successful in our chosen careers, and having a beautiful little girl (I'm still driving a piece of crap Toyota, however). I can also say without fear of contradiction that, were it not for my wife, I'd still be kicking around as a bartender and telling people how much I wanted to be a writer while spending my evenings playing video games and watching what remained of my marginal good looks swirl down the drain. The Wife has always been my biggest supporter, and my biggest critic. If I write something that sucks, she lets me know. I don't always take her advice, but I usually regret it when I don't.
The somewhat ironic thing is, we're not doing much of anything to celebrate the big 1-0. Late last year we'd discussed plans for going abroad, but there's been something of an avalanche of bad news and family crises hammering us since January. We remain uncharacteristically confident that this is a relatively brief downturn (optimism, I've belatedly come to learn, is sometimes a necessity), but have had to scale back our celebratory plans.
And having said that, I can't possibly imagine going through the last few months without The Wife. I know she'd say the same about me, but she's always been the sane one in our relationship. Every time I feel like I've finally, inexorably lost control of everything, she's there to smack me in the mouth (figuratively) and bring me back around. One day I might file charges, but right now all I have is gratitude.
So happy anniversary, babe. I know 2006 is shaping up to be one of the all-time worst, but we were probably due, and I know everything's going to turn out all right.
Ten years…not bad for a starter marriage.
Congrats, dude. Best of luck to both of you for another strong fifty years.
—Chris
Congratulations, Pete. That’s a wonderful post.
BTW, EP sang at your wedding?
BTW, EP sang at your wedding?
She did indeed. We could’ve charged admission.
Congratulations and happy anniversary, Pete. Here’s to 50 more as well.
Congrats! We just celebrated our 10th two weeks ago, and you echoed my sentiments perfectly. Of course, we celebrated by getting our first tattoos. I hope the year turns around for you guys.
wow, Pete…..that’s the best entertainment anybody could get a wedding. That’s too cool.
Congrats again
Congratulations, Dude! And I second the Kudos for “the Wife”. Knowing she’s there to help and keep you “real” makes it a little easier to be 2100 miles away during tough times.
Hang in there—tomorrow IS another day!
Love you all.
Well, let me be the first…, um, second…, uhhh, it looks like eleventh to say congratulations to you both. On this blog.
Anyway, if you want a really spiffy dining experience to celebrate, I suggest Noe. They do a really cool tasting menu for only a small fortune. Elizabeth and I went there for our 15th, and it was fabulous.
And tell The Wife I said hello, and her sainthood for putting up with you is obviously ensured to be fast-tracked.
You’re an inspiration. No, seriously.
Congratulations to you both. In another 10 years you’ll be able to look back at 2006 as just a brief hitch in an otherwise fantastic union.
And let me second Noe. Nothin’ says lovin’ like a 12 course gourmet tasting menu. *urp*
congratulations! As your absentee bloglord, I commend you on anniversiarizing successfully for a decade.
Congratulations! Here’s hoping things get at least a little better for ya’ll, sounds like life’s been rough recently.
Congratulations! What a great post!
Let me throw in my congrats as well. I am in awe of people who can make it work.
Add me to the chorus of congratulatory praise.
You and The Wife is good people.
Damn, Pete, look at all these shmucks crawling out of the woodwork to wish you and yours good times. That in itself is cause for contentment. Now, people, stop with the mushy stuff and call him a commie or a nerd or a bastard.
Congratulations.
commie nerd
banjo: Pete and The Wife never have. They can’t, as they don’t have a bed. They may have “gone to suspend themselves from gravity boots in the hyperbaric chamber for the night” angry, but never “gone to bed”.
I hope that clears things up.
And to think, Mexico is only a couple of hours away…Congrats to you both.
Yeah yeah the love, the kid, the support, the devotion…the best part about your ten years? YOUR PORCH SWING AT 4AM + BEER.
Wow…nice post man! Congrats! Hang in there with the bad news….it can’t last forever!
Pete, I’m a regular reader, and I rarely comment, but I just wanted to say congratulations. Good post, and even though I don’t really know you, I’m happy for you that you’ve lasted this long and are happy. I’m about to hit 4 years in my marriage, so you’re a good inspiration to me.
A very belated happy tenth anniversary to you and The Wife. It perturbs me greatly to be late with that, but the press of work and all that… Damn inconsiderate employer.
Best wishes for another 10 years, too.
Happy Anniversary, to two of my favorite people. Guess that means you were still newlyweds when first I met you. Cheers!
Hey congrats, just celebrated number 14 myself this week! Looks like I’m coming to your neck of the woods again in October!!
Congratulations!