Back in December Christopher and I got to talking about my upcoming 40th birthday party. My family from the midwest decided that this milestone was NOT to be missed, so they planned on coming out to witness this sign of the apocolypse. I seriously think my brother, Ted, was keeping a rolodex of middle-age jabs in preparation for the visit. We couldn't let them down - so we decided to throw the mother-of-all-birthday bashes.
That's when my partner Christopher went mental and started cooking-up his own plans to turn my birthday party into a surprise wedding! You know, it was a great idea. What a wonderful way for our friends and family to all be together at the same time. We have been together for well over 16 years now and we haven't made it this far without the love and support of all the great people who are so close to us. It was really a celebration of EVERYONE who has contributed to the quality of our lives.
If you want to read about the WHOLE story that led up to the wedding on April 2nd - go check out CJ's blog (there's a link to it on this page.) I will just tell you that it was hands-down the happiest day of my life to date. It was also the most CONFUSING! It's hard to describe the shock of walkng into a room (that you didn't know the location of until minutes before you arrived), expecting it to be empty and to see 200 of your best friends and family! All dressed up! Then... CJ takes me up to a balcony two stories up that overlooks this amazing space (see the photos... it was a 6-story atruim!) and then... with a microphone... PROPOSES TO ME! Holy crap! I had no idea what hit me. After I said "Yes" - immediately - my next thought was, "I'm wearing jeans! I can't get married in jeans!" (please refer, again, to CJ's blog for the sneaky way he had a tuxedo on-hand).
It was amazing what they pulled-off. My best freinds Kelly and Art, my sister-in-laws Rocki & Gina, my family from the midwest - they were all planning this thing for months! Some people have asked, "Were you disappointed that you didn't get to plan your own wedding?" Absolutely not. They got it all right. The whole family was in on the ceremony, Mariachi musucians represented CJ's cultural background and I had a real bagpiper playing when the family walked down the isle. (It was at that point I went from tears of appreciation to the snorting, hiccupping, ugly cry!) Instead of one wedding cake there were several - each one a selected favorite of each member of the wedding party and immediate family. It was beautiful.
Toasts were given by Rocki, Christopher's sister; my brother Ted; CJ's dad, Richard; and my best friend, Kelly. They were all moving and fun - and once again, after gaining some composure, I had projectile tears shooting out of my eyes.
I could type all night about this - so suffice it to say, we are very blessed. And yes, it does feel different to be married now. It does mean something more to be in front of everyone you love and say "This is the person God has chosen for me." I am humbled and grateful for the wonderful man I get to have as my spouse and moved by the unconditional love and support of my friends and family.
Now explain this to me... How does that threaten the sanctity of the definition marriage? As far as I can tell, divorce rates haven't spiked since April 2nd.
