Some Thoughts About Six Years Of Marriage

Tomorrow is my six year wedding anniversary, and I can’t help but remember when I first met Dana. We began dating and had a blast. Even though we promised ourselves we’d take baby steps, things moved pretty fast. Though we’ve since graduated from foolish notions of love at first sight. We’ve checked in to reality — or perhaps reality’s checked into us — past the initial infatuation, past the ideals of the perfect soul mate. Rather, we’re strengthening a commitment to each a little bit each and every day. She’s changed me for the better, and if I could do the past six years over again, I’d choose her the same.

God bless the passenger, driving with me down memory lane.

A few years into marriage, we received some not so great news from the doctor. As it would turn out, our memory lane was going to be rockier, sooner, than most others we know. For a year and a half, life seemed really slow. During that time it was hard, but it also turned into a time of growth. Dana never seemed to lose heart, even the times when I had lost mine; and though our first years of marriage didn’t turn out as we had planned, I can’t say it was a complete waste of time. Being forced to slow your life down and think about some hard topics turns into a terrific form of therapy. And now the love we share stands on a stronger foundation of this shared experience.

I thank God for the speed-bumps we’ve hit, driving down memory lane.

I remember a conversation that took place between Dana and I, about two years and four months ago. I still remember it quite clearly. We were at 5 Guys, Burgers and Fries, enjoyed some of their tasty burgers and fries. When these young parents waltz through the door, seemingly dragging a two year old child in tow, and he proceeds to cry — though our whole meal this little guy cries. Being two ~contemporary~ (or maybe selfish) people who knew everything about everything, we briefly discussed some of the intricacies of child rearing and decided that if we even want to have kids, we need to wait for at least 3 more years or so. The very same week, I’m being sent out to pick up home pregnancy tests close at 10 at night.

Sure enough, we were expecting and nine months later Logan arrived. And along with him, he brought some gifts for his parents; unconditional love, patience, wonder, and a mechanism by which to pull the very best out of Dana and me. Two years later and he and his little brother Chase are still doing just that. These two little men have burned off my chaff, and turned my beautiful wife into a beautiful mother. To be completely honest, if there is any title in this world that Dana was meant to hold I’m convinced it’s that of “mommy”. She amazes me sometimes — especially remembering that the way things turned out weren’t exactly how we planned, or even remotely resembled what we planned — with how naturally she fell into the mommy role.

I thank God for the detour we’ve taken, driving down memory lane.

So I guess this brings us up to date. Here we are, emerged from our very own bizarro tunnel of love, our passionsaurus being hit with rocks thrown by those meddlesome routinies, and very happy. Sure the past six years have brought our fair share of heartache, times I’ve dropped the ball, times she’s left me alone — I won’t lie. We’re all grownups now, there’s no need to lie about it. However; each and every time, even the times we might not have felt like it, we held together tight. Through everything we’ve been through, and this could be cliche, I feel us moving closer together. At our current pace and direction, I feel as though things could only getting better. Dana’s made me a better person, and I’d like to think I’ve made an impression on her too.

I thank God for the scenery, driving down memory lane.