Saturday, August 26, 2006

The First Day of Our 17th Year



(editor's note: Settle in, this one's a doozy.)

Dear Boo,

Before I go any further I would just like to point out that when we jokingly made up pet names, mine for you went on to sweep the hip hop world. Because despite the fact that I'm a goober, I can totally start trends. Decorated vests for women? That was me, too. Sorry about that.

Ummm... where was I? Oh yes. Today we celebrate our 17th wedding anniversary. Pretty weird, huh? Time is a strange and complicated thing. On the one hand, it seems like just yesterday. (What? I'm not still 19? This can not be!) On the other, it seems a lifetime ago. (Good grief, I feel like I'm a hundred.) But in a good way. We started out young, you cradle robber, you. Fortunately, we grew up together and not apart. Ours is a "Princess Bride" sort of romance - heavy on the humorous banter and dry wit. Flowers and cards have never much been your style. Instead, luckily for me, you have a talent for giving the fabulously unexpected. If our audience will indulge me, I will submit a few examples.

I admit, I can't remember if this and this were for our first Christmas or my birthday. I do remember that I cried, because these were pictures I took in Germany in 1987 and you knew how much the memory of that trip meant to me. We were completely broke that year and I wasn't expecting much. Major points, babe.

With Christmas 1991 came one of my favorite gifts of all time. I miss him.

Thank you for taking this out one day to get it washed, and coming back with this. Wow. WOW. Seriously.

Thanks for coming here with me. I very much enjoyed showing you this and this and this (despite your seeming complaints of "basilica butt" and the overabundance of the depiction of Mary and The Christ Child). To be able to share a place that I love so much with you was a gift in and of itself.

The best was a gift we gave each other. This one showed up a little early. And, boy, is it the gift that keeps on growing and growing and Holy Adolescence, Batman, growing. Even though I can't remember you changing one diaper ::AHEM::, thank you for being a great Dad.

Thank you for putting up with my bad traits and (mostly - heh) appreciating my good ones. And for your patience when I freak out a little about life's R.O.U.S's. (Really, people, it's just a little - in general I'm pretty low maintenance. Right, hon? RIGHT?) Thank you for all the hard work you've put into our house. And for putting the toilet seat AND lid down, right from the beginning. Let's work on the beard hairs all over the bathroom sink, though, shall we? Thank you for cooking me some fab meals. I miss you doing the grocery shopping, though. I hate going to the grocery store. ::SAP ALERT:: To sum up, (and to wrap up, so as to not bore the masses) thanks for being the sort of husband I need to traverse the Fire Swamp. You're too good to me.

Love yer body, Larry.

22 comments:

Anonymous said...

Believe me, you make it very easy to do the things I do. When most of the people that work in my industry have been divorced or at least seriously close to it, you have stuck with it and put up with the days, weeks, and months of travel and horrible work hours. Thank you for the best 17 years a man could want.

Anonymous said...

You guys are awesome!

Bobealia... said...

I was about to come over here and bust your butt about posting again, and here was a nice, long, personal, funny, heart-warming message. Congrats on your 17th year!!! May the next 17 bring you more happiness.

Mandy Klevenski said...

Man ... this made me cry! I am so happy for you both and still remember your wedding day (I think I wore b/w striped leggings and a paisley bohemian top - Ha!) Congratulations for 17 years. Love!

Robyn said...

I just about cried when I read the part about taking your car out for a wash and bringing back the new VW! You're story is inspiring and makes me appreciate my husband and look forward to our many years together. Congratulations on 17 years!

Katherine said...

Aww, Happy Anniversary! What a winner! And what a sweet comment he left. If he's "Boo", what's your pet name?

Andrea Frazer said...

Wow. Not only do I love your post, but after reading your closing line, I'd like to love his body, too. (Too cute!) Now tell us how you met. That prom picture? Ha! And did Mom love him as much as she does now? (Oh, and the baby pics... too precious... those curls!) I'm off to now stew on the fact that all I get for my anniversary are ass warmers for my car.

Teri M. said...

Dave: Love ya, babe.

Arch: Stop... you're making me blush. :D

Bo: HA - just in the nick of time. ;) Thanks!

NCE: And thank you for all the help!

Mandy: You wore that to the rehearsal. Remember, I didn't want to pick between you and Jean, so I had you both be my maids-of-honor. Thanks so much!

H-bug: Uh, nice effort, kid.

Robyn: I love, love telling that story. I'm so excited for you two and from what I've read, I don't doubt that a long and happy marriage is ahead of you!

Katherine: Thanks. :) Ok, seriously, keeping in mind that these are mostly jokie: Punkin
Shut up. (LOL)

Mama P: Aw, thanks. It's a quote from one of his favorite movies, Fletch. And he says it to me all the time. How me met? I'll hafta do a post for that, cuz even though it's not complicated, it's too long for comments. Because we're residing in Brokeville this year, he made me dinner and I wrote him this post. Economical and personal all at the same time. There are definitely mornings when an asswarmer would come in handy!

Mandy Klevenski said...

I do remember! The wording of my last comment was kind of confusing. Even I wouldn’t have worn such a bizarre outfit at a wedding ceremony (although what I wore to Jean’s wedding was still fairly bizarre) … but I thought that was what I wore the day of your wedding before changing into the maid-of-honor dress (wasn’t it red with poofy sleeves – I don’t know what the material is called, something shiny, but not as shiny as satin? ;) Somehow I remember seeing a photo of me in that outfit some years later (maybe at your house?) and I was totally embarrassed by how inappropriate it was. Just chalk it up to being an expressive college artist type. LOL! Somehow I don't think I ended up with any photos from the grand event and after 17 years, my memory is a little spotty. ;)

Teri M. said...

Oooooh ok - I'm dense! Later on I'm gonna go look at my album and check it out. Hee! I have currently misplaced a whole bag full of duplicate pictures, that include wedding photos. If you'd like I can either scan and email them to you or I can send you actual photos, like in the olden days. (Ones with you me and Jean - or getting ready, or whatever). Yup, the dresses were red, and I think taffeta? They were rented so that no one got stuck with a dress they would never wear again. I thought, on the whole, compared to other bridesmaids' dresses I've seen, they weren't hideous. I hope. At the time I certainly didn't think your outfit was inappropriate - and looking at it I still don't. I can't remember what you wore to Jean's, though. I do remember that I loved all your sixties mini-dresses in all the wild prints. Your Dad gave you money to buy clothes for college and we went down to the thrift stores on Broadway to scour them for cool retro stuff. You were way ahead of your time and soooo cool!!

meno said...

Congratulations on the 17 years. What an accomplishment. Cute post, and nice first comment.

Teri M. said...

Thanks. :) Yeah, looks like he's a keeper.

And congratulations to you on 25!

the kitschen table said...

Happy Anniversry!
Found you thru Hula Seventy.Dig your style! Now I'll have to check in on your blog regular like.Can't have too many friends in blogland. I'm just starting my blog...takes a while to get on a roll and find your voice. You, though, have style galore. Thanks!
Julie

Teri M. said...

Thanks for stopping by and the great compliments! Feel free to leave those anytime. LOL

sc@vp said...

suhweeeet

Teri M. said...

It's sick, huh? LOL

Anonymous said...

Ok, you just quoted Princess Bride AND you like Dorothy Parker?

If he didn't marry you I would have.

Teri M. said...

Dearest, I didn't mean "cool" sick.

and for the html code to work you have to use < > not []

Teri M. said...

LOL, Jenny - if this doesn't work out, I'll keep that in mind. Hee

Anonymous said...

THAT WAS GORGEOUS!!!!! absolutely completely gorgeous and I hope I grow up to be just as fabulous a wife as you are!! *huuuuuuuuuuugs* xxx

Jenni said...

Awwwww!

Here's to many many more happy years!

Cheers!

(Yes, I know it's 8:00 in the morning...I raised my fruit smoothie)

Teri M. said...

Mooooooooooooooo, my sweet! Girl, from what I can tell, you are an awesome wife!! I loved your Gareth post. It was way adorable.

Jenni: Thanks! (Hee - how was the smoothie?)

H-bug: Much better.