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We Are Sixteen, Going On Seventeen

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Sixteen years ago today, I married the love of my life.

Gosh, we look young here! This photo was taken the morning after our wedding by my sister-in-law, Suzie.

We’ve grown older. We’ve been together twenty years and have been married for sixteen. Our small, very private ceremony took place in Nevada City, CA, where Don was doing a one-man show, Jeeves Takes Charge. It was Monday, Don’s day off and, coincidentally, Columbus Day. The ceremony was beautiful. We both cried all the way through it. I had a cast on my left ankle, which had been broken in August. We exchanged single white roses. Afterward, we took a horse-drawn carriage ride through the autumnal streets of Nevada City and since it was a holiday there were a lot of people around. They smiled and waved and it was beautiful.

I once thought I would never marry; indeed, had absolutely no desire to be married. Thank goodness I waited. Thank goodness I was happy enough with myself that I never felt I needed a relationship to feel fulfilled. But when, in my forties, I was ready to open the door to that possibility, Don walked into my life and the girl who didn’t want to marry suddenly wanted very much to be married. But only to this man.

What an amazing ride it has been! Thank you, dearest love, for everything. Thank you for understanding my eccentricities and neuroses, for making me laugh so hard that I can barely contain myself or my bladder, for your compassion and love for your fellow man, for your everyday kindness to everyone, for your wisdom, for your intelligence, for your cooking skills, for your wonderful craziness, for your infinite patience, for your back rubs, for being as silly as me – if not more so, for loving to cuddle on the sofa, for sharing the adventure that is our life together. And for being such a good dad to our dogs.

See you tomorrow, my love. Happy Anniversary.

P.S. Scout did it again last night! Running and running in the lamplit park. Amazing.

Happy Sunday.

ClaudiaSignature140X93

Comments

  2. Happy happy 16th Anniversary! (We’ve been together 20 years too and the 17th will be our 17th Anniversary.) Such a great photo of you two, you can feel the love and happiness.

    xo

    • It’s says something when a picture taken at the age of 45 looks young to me! Thanks, Susie.

  5. Happy anniversary, Claudia and Don! It is so wonderful that you found each other! I hope you have many more wonderful, silly years together! Hugs and pets to Scout :)
    Deb

  6. Claudia and Don, Happy Anniversary to you and many more years of happiness ahead! Enjoy your day tomorrow when you are together! Even Scout is celebrating your day! Doris

  7. Wonderful love story – Happy Anniversary to you both!! Sweet Scout – she has such a lovely spirit!

  9. “Mawage. Mawage is wot bwings us togeder today. Mawage, that bwessed awangment, that dweam wifin a dweam… ”

    Happy Anniversary, You Two ♥

  12. Such a lovely post to read this morning – thank you for sharing.
    Wishing you both a very happy anniversary! :D

  13. Happy Anniversary! What a story, and what a perfect match you are for each other. So happy also to hear about Scout’s little adventures. Such a sweetheart and both of you deserving of this joy – her to experience and you to witness! Have a wonderful day!

  14. Happy Anniversary with many more to follow! Have a fun day together tomorrow, and I just bet Scout will be pretty excited to see her Dad!!

  16. Happy Anniversary Claudia and Don and may you have many, many more happy years together. October is our anniversary month, too! We will celebrate 55 years on the 24th.

  17. Well HAPPY DAY to you both…and I would say any man who can make one’s bladder weak, is most definitely a keeper :-) Have fun together tomorrow!!!!!

  19. Happy Anniversary! Wishing you many, many more.
    Sounds like Miss Scout is turning into a party animal.

  20. My heart is doing the “dance of joy” for you and Don. May you have 16 more, more and more.

  21. Happy Anniversary to you both! You two look fantastic in that pic…your true love shows! Have a wonderful time tomorrow! ;)

  22. Dear Claudia, a very happy anniversary to you and Don! Twenty years together! Now THAT’S something to celebrate. Hey, you ARE going to be able to see each other today, aren’t you? Sure hope so… Twenty, that’s the china/traditional or platinum/modern anniversary. I’m figuring you for maybe china, huh? :>)

    PS – sounds like something in Hartford is definitely agreeing with Miss Scout. Or maybe she’s sneaking off for some power spa treatments while you’re gone each day. Whatever’s going on is terrific!

    • No, not today, Janet. Don has two shows today. I’ll pick him up tomorrow morning and he’ll spend the day and night with his girls. Then back to New Haven tomorrow.

  25. Happy Anniversary to you both. I love that photo of the two of you -love like this comes round but once, that’s my belief! Congrats on finding each other!

    • Mine too. It took Don a couple of tries. And it took me a while to be ready. So glad we found each other. Thanks, Pat!

  26. If someone asked me to define love..I would show them that picture of you two..I have never seen any couple absolutely glow with love the way you two do in that picture..No wonder Scout is doing a happy dance!!..Hugs to all of you and thanks again for sharing your life with us..

  27. Happy Anniversary! Kudos to you for figuring out when you were to marry and who. There is a lot to be said for people who lear to be content within themselves. So very many people never learn that. I truly believe that must come first for other relationships to blossom. Enjoy the next part of your journey together.

    • I wouldn’t have been able to have a healthy relationship if I hadn’t been happy being single. Thank you, Linda.

  28. Happy Anniversary! I love hearing your story.
    And the photo of you both has such sweet happiness. I love your hands are placed. Speaks volumes.

  29. Happy l6th Anniversary Claudia and Don!!! What a Beautiful “Love Story”!!! you are truly Blessed…. I pray that you celebrate many, many more!

    Debbi

    So excited for you that Scout is so enjoying her nightly romps in the park!!!

  30. Happy Anniversary! I did not wait, I married at 19 to a man 11 years older than me. We had some good times, but the marriage ended 10 years later. I have a wonderful son aged 35 thanks to that marriage. I remarried again at 31 and have 2 more wonderful children, both adults now, and a husband to grow old with. Yours is a lovely story! So happy that Scout is living it up in her old age.

    • So is yours, Laura. Though one relationship ended, you had a son. And another relationship started, and that’s the forever one. Thanks so much.

  31. Claudia and Don – Happy 20th Anniversary! Are you going to get to see each other today? Sure hope so?wishing you many more years together!

    Judy

  32. ahhhh..beautifully said!!! HAPPY ANNIV. to you both….also, so happy scout is doing so well….LOVE this girl too!!! may you be able to celebrate 16 years of wedded bliss when you are together tomorrow!!!

    • Sssh! Don’t tell Don, but I bought 2 white roses. We’re supposed to exchange them every anniversary, but we sometimes forget. They’re in the refrigerator and I’m going to surprise him with them tomorrow.

  33. Happy Anniversary, Claudia & Don. Such a romantic story and so beautifully told. We just celebrated a Columbus Day anniversary as well…26 years for us. Wishing you & Don years and years of happy days together.
    Cheryl

  34. Happy Anniversary, Claudia and Don! My parents got married on October 12th, 1961, and today is their 53rd anniversary. All the best to you!

    xo
    Poppy

  35. Huge congratulations dear Claudia and Don – I’m so glad you waited for one another! I always love your re-telling of this romantic story – and hope to hear it told over and over again for all the years to come.

    We went to a local production of that old Eugene O’Neill’s “Desire Under The Elms” last evening! The cast gave it their all, and I must say the voice coach must have been good – but not as good as you of course – but it was just not one of my favorites and Jasmin, at almost 18, was not amused! Need I say more?

    Hugs – Mary

    • I’m not the biggest O’Neill fan, either. I admire his work, but the watching of the plays can be tough. My favorite is A Moon for the Misbegotten – beautiful.

      Thanks for the good wishes, Mary!

  36. It all sounds very romantic. “Happy Anniversary, Claudia and Don” Sending a hug to you and of course, for little Scout.

    • Thank you, sweet Eileen! I still vividly remember your wedding day and I was so honored to be a part of it. xoxo

  42. I didn’t get on the computer till late yesterday and didn’t get to blogs! I feel so sad that I didn’t read this post till this morning! Happy Anniversary to you and Don! And many more! And as a side note: GO SCOUT!!

  43. Happy Anniversary 1 day late!!! I, too, found the love of my life later, and we’ve been together 17 years. Isn’t love grand! Our 12 year old Foster is cheering on Scout…our dogs do bring such joy.

  44. Oh you can see the love shining through in that photo. Many blessings to you both. The best is always worth the wait. Wishing you many, many more happy years.

  45. Happy Anniversary! Lovebirds….y’all still look so young and good twogether! Hope Don makes it to see you and Scout soon! That chocolate looks yummy!

  46. Happy Anniversary ! I live in Nevada City, Ca. Love it here, it is a romantic little town. The leaves and changing but sad to say the carriage rides are gone, except at Christmas. Did you know that the Hallmark movie “The Christmas Card” was filmed here. Story line kind of hokey but it shows the charm of Nevada City. Love following you.

    Janet

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