Dear Kate,
It was in the late afternoon on December
30th, 2006, a winter’s silvery sun coming in through a leaded glass
window. An impossible light on a cloudy day, but it was the the day I said ‘I
do’ to Kate which makes anything possible. That makes this year our seventh
anniversary. Ever heard of the theory of the Seven Year Itch?
For us, in the past seven years, there
have been no fewer than four major renovation sessions occurring in two different
houses. There has been one neurotic dog, and two lovely, irrepressible
irreplaceable children, not to mention several cousins, and more weddings. Five
(or maybe six?) strollers. Many Sundays singing hymns. A thousand family
dinners. Three degrees completed and/or conferred. Six vegetable gardens. Six seasons of raking leaves. One
Transatlantic trip, two sojourns to sunny southern climes (Hola, and might I add Aloha!), and a number
of other domestic flights. Lotsa drives to Kamloops. Numerous cross border jaunts.
Terrible sickness. Deaths, even. 2,190 days. 2,190 nights, many of them
sleepless thanks to aforementioned irrepressible children. One baptism (ps, we
need to get on that other one).Two cars, a few new sets of skis, and a cargo
bike. Nine job changes. Nine. Conferences, conference calls, board meetings.
Thousands and thousands of commuter hours. 84 power bills to pay. Just as many
telephone bills. Two high school reunions...and I could go on... and on... and
on...
Thankfully, there are the unquantifiable
moments: Any number of nights on the town (though amounts diminish greatly
post-baby arrival!), movies on the couch, walks and bike rides, opportunities
to hold hands. Discussions over wine or tea. crackling fires. Heated discussions
that required no extrinsic source of fire. Snowball fights. Stargazing
sessions. Tears shed, which you were there to catch, and I yours. Hugs and
kisses (probably in the neighbourhood of 2,190 a piece since there’s at least one of each a day). Upset, depression, heartache, want, wonder, joy and laughter.
There have been terrible, unforgettable
moments during our time as husband and wife. But moments is all they add up to.
There are bad days and tough times, but there is no such thing in my life as a
bad week, month or year. The parts are not the sum. It is all divisible by you,
and the equation always comes out as a positive.
Moments, good or bad, are never dull and
there is always you, always ‘us’, and my love grows with each tick on the
clock.
With all named above, and all unnamed yet
to come, I ask you:
Seven year itch?
Never heard of it.
I only know love, and family and all those things I signed up for and how thankful I am
for it.
Then. Now. Always. Happy Anniversary.
