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a sunday kind of love
A year ago, my husband of six hours and I met our friends for drinks at a bar in the Waldorf-Astoria hotel. You have no idea how I looked forward to that drink, oh wait you probably do. When we arrived, our friends, who were well into their dozenth cocktails, stood up and applauded which was cute and also embarrassing, but mostly awesome. Alex's best man procured for us two bourbons on the rocks and I was about halfway into my first sip when the tired hit me harder than a ten-ton truck. We didn't make it very long down there. Upstairs, I pulled SIXTY-SEVEN BOBBY PINS out of my updo, which was cemented in place with so much hairspray, it pretty much held its coif without the assistance. I decided a shower was in order, the only problem is my notorious klutziness combined with my excruciating fatigue had not taken the night off and I SLIPPED IN THE SHOWER, like the very old lady I am, tearing down half the curtain in my descent.
"Are you okay in there?" Alex called from the bedroom.
Shoot, he heard that, didn't he? I thought. I mean, the entire Upper East Side could have heard my indelicate crash, and yet somehow I'd convinced myself I could be something other than my clumsy, awkward, typical self on my wedding night.
"I'm fine, no worries!" I lied.
Clean, dry and two aspirins-down-the-gullet later, I hobbled back into the bedroom, saw this man I had married reading in bed, and hurried back into the bathroom again, panicked. Oh, my, god - do I have to, ohmygod, now? I mean, I do, don't I? It would be a terrible omen if I had a "headache." But I do! Why is he still awake?... On and on and on. Wracked with nerves, I tip-toed back into the room and there he was, The Love of My Life, nodded off. I have never felt so relieved. We slept like babies.
***
Sometime late the next afternoon, we arrived in Acapulco. As we waited for our suitcases to be brought up to our room, my husband did what he always does: turn on the television. This is when I learned for the very first time that while I had been busy frolicking down the aisle, sipping bourbon, plucking hairpins, wiping out in the shower and fretting over whether or not it was a terrible start to the rest of your lives together to fall asleep when you desperately needed to, New Orleans had become submerged. I'm pretty sure it was hours before we tore ourselves away from CNN, both humbled and enraged. How did this happen? Why aren't these people safe yet? How can we go have margaritas on the beach at sunset when grandmothers are clinging to roofs, hoping someone will pluck them to safety?
***
I once said that my favorite part of The Graduate is when they flee the wedding and jump on a bus out of town, winded and ecstatic. As they slowly catch their breath, you can practically hear the dust settle around them, and you just know that things are never going to be the way you thought they were when they were chasing them, but good in other, quieter ways. A year after our wedding, it's not the big, obvious things I remember — big chunks of the reception, exactly what my second cousin said when he hugged me, what I ate for dinner, if anything — it's these small details of the first 24 hours. Even if they're not as upbeat or exciting as smashing glasses or face-smooshing cake, for better or for worse, they're my favorite.
More importantly, so is he. Happy Anniversary, baby.
comments (23)
Awwww! :)
1 | Mary | August 29, 2006 12:44 PM
Happy anniversary! You know, he sounds like a keeper!!!
2 | Jennifer | August 29, 2006 12:58 PM
Mazel tov on making it through the first year with so much love. Rumor is if you are happy that first year, you will always be happy!
3 | Neil | August 29, 2006 01:59 PM
Happy Anniversary!
May every year be so sweet :)
4 | Browneyedgirlie | August 29, 2006 02:07 PM
Happy anniversary!
5 | Phc | August 29, 2006 03:05 PM
I'm glad to see that you made it through the first year!!! Very encouraging, esp. since everyone seems to be getting a divorce, and ESP. since I myself am getting married in a month! I had my hair trial and I only had 40-something in my hair haha. I will try to trump that with the actual wedding hair.
6 | S | August 29, 2006 04:04 PM
It's nice to see that seemingly fairytale marriages start of with doses of everyday reality like exhaustion & aspirin. Congrats on your first married year!
7 | Rochelle | August 29, 2006 05:35 PM
Geez, your writing sounds like mine. :-) And your relationship does a little, too. All of which makes me really happy. Congratulations! I'll be by again.
8 | R.J. | August 29, 2006 05:41 PM
Happy Anniversary!
Can you believe it? Three more months and I'll be there, too. Crazy.
9 | Abby | August 29, 2006 05:58 PM
Happy Anniversary!
Here's to many more years of endearing reality. :-)
10 | Tara | August 29, 2006 09:21 PM
Happy Anniversary!!!!
11 | Muffy Wong | August 30, 2006 12:52 AM
Happy Anniversary! And gorgeous picture up top...stunning!
12 | ukyankee | August 30, 2006 04:32 AM
Happy Anniversary!
13 | Tammi | August 30, 2006 07:35 AM
Chills... seriously, I just got them! Thanks for giving us single gals hope that there's still some of them out there!
14 | Lauren | August 30, 2006 09:54 AM
As I am working my way towards my own wedding day (Oct 13), it is ruminations such as yours that give me inspiration, and make me even more excited to arrive at such happiness!
Happy Anniversary, Deb!
15 | Farrah | August 30, 2006 10:20 AM
As you were off getting hitched, I was off getting engaged. Ahhh :)
16 | M | August 30, 2006 11:14 AM
happy anniversary! as a newly wedded person- i can't tell you how much this post means!
17 | divinemissk | August 30, 2006 01:57 PM
happy anniversary! as a newly wedded person- i'm right there with you. looking forward to the next year with my own hubby.
18 | divinemissk | August 30, 2006 02:01 PM
Congratulations & Mazel Tov! Here's to a lifetime of health, happiness, and occasions that bring so much joy.
19 | jill | August 30, 2006 06:46 PM
awwww - aug 29 is my bday but my husband and i were married 1 year in Sept. happy anniversary to you both!
20 | kdunk | August 30, 2006 10:09 PM
When are we going to hear your big news??
21 | M | August 31, 2006 05:08 PM
Can't believe its a year already - congratulations!
22 | birdy | September 1, 2006 10:06 AM
Happy Anniversary to you! I have said this before I'll say it again...your husband sounds great!!
Cheers to you YIPEE
23 | Gayle Trini | September 1, 2006 03:15 PM