Six Years with J-Man

Six years ago my J-Man and I stood before our closest friends and family (quite possibly you) and vowed sweet and lovely things to each other. A hurricane was sweeping by, we were between careers and cities, a funk band was ready to rock out, and we were madly in love.

In the midst of wedding planning, we realized just how expensive every tiny detail is. They really tug at your heartstrings telling you that each cost is worth it because "you only get married once." Or, in most cases at least, you only marry that person once.

But videographers. What an expense! Over a thousand dollars for a videotape I'd never watch again?! J-Man and I agreed we'd skip that one, and splurge on the music and food instead. Thankfully, I happened to remember a friend whose parents had dutifully videotaped every race we'd ever run as track athletes in high school. Who better to ask to videotape one more PR?

Miss F and her parents graciously agreed, and soon after the wedding J-Man and I got the DVD of our big day.

We love it.

So now, every year, we curl up together and watch it in each other's arms. Despite being tear-free on that day, I can't get through our vows without big, sloppy tears anymore. I still laugh when J-Man says he'll put the toilet seat down, not put my good jeans in the dryer, and mow the lawn.

It's a wonderful feeling to know I love this man as much today as I did then.  It's a blessing to realize that I found a complement to my strengths and weaknesses while still so young.

I love that little video, and I love the opportunity it gives me, year after year, to squeeze my J-Man and let him know he's still the man I never knew I always wanted. And the best father I could imagine for our boys.

We snuggled, I cried, we smiled, and in our typical diminishing style, decided "eh, I'm in for one more year if you are."

Bring it on, year number seven.