also

My best friend Kelly, who wrote a very loving post on her own blog about this occasion, put this photograph up on her blog--one of the earliest pictures taken of The Fiance and myself, just a month into our relationship and just as I was beginning my education at the University of Minnesota. Look! Without a beard even! And his hair, so short! And me, so slender.

I look back on that time, and I knew. I know I knew, and I realize that is so silly to say, but I did, and I think part of him did too, and now, here we are, just before that day. And it feels like we've already been married, so what's all the fuss about? We really want this party, this celebration, and these vows in front of all these people we love. I think sometimes people wonder what the point is to get married when you've been together for so many (eight) years, and if you're not a religious-type person--what's the difference anyway? But I can say this: we get to stand up in front of the people we love absolutely the most and pledge that love and promise to each other that we'll stick it out, we'll sprout up a family, we'll give it everything we can give. We get all dressed up, people we care about do too, and we dance around, twirling about, wearing the white dress and the taupe tux and kiss each other and say I LOVE YOU in front of everyone!

And I keep thinking about looking out into that crowd at the rehearsal dinner tonight, and I keep thinking about how truly phenomenal that is, to have fifty people out there who will reach out their arms and catch you if you fall, who will toast you when you are well, who will curl up and keep you safe. Who support this marriage (I hope they do) and who wish us well. It means the world.

Eight minutes and it's tomorrow (on my clock) and my wedding day. Here we go...