FIFTEEN Years

When I married Erick fifteen years ago, fifteen years sounded like a long time. Now, I realize fifteen years is just the beginning. I don't feel like we have reached some sort of threshold or that we've made it. I am still amazed every day that I get to wake up next to my favorite person - even when I don't want to admit he's my favorite.

Fifteen years ago, we were kids. We're still young and have a lot to learn about each other and ourselves. It's the best part of my life. And I have lots to be grateful for. 

Lucky Thirteen

I don't remember being this tired on our wedding day, but apparently, it was exhausting.

Wake up, you two! They're waiting to cut the cake!!

Happy Anniversary!!

And thanks for a bajillion happy moments in the last twelve years.

I LOVE NEW ORLEANS

I really couldn't tell you how many times I declared my love for the Big Easy while we were walking its streets. Thursday afternoon, my mom and dad took Sophia home with them. Our plan was to come back to St. Louis and get about five hours of sleep before leaving at midnight. It's a ten hour drive from St. Louis. But, seeing as we were like children waiting to go to Disneyland (children who can drive), we ended up just staying awake instead. We watched The Avengers at a local theatre, and got onto I-55. We arrived in New Orleans just in time to eat an early lunch. I'll try not to go into detail about every meal, but it may be difficult. Anyway, first meal was The Gumbo Shop, a favorite of ours. It was great, and everything would just get better from there. After lunch, we did what we would do for the majority of our weekend - walked and walked. We walked every street of the French Quarter. We strolled down blocks we haven't been on before and we explored all of the busiest blocks as well. I don't know when they did this, but the city has now blocked off several blocks of Royal Street for pedestrians during the day, allowing vehicles down Bourbon instead. Then switching those two at night. This change brought out some fantastic entertainment on Royal. We saw jazz bands, jazz solos, contemporary musicians, street performers, an opera singer and many more. Until the rain washed everyone out for an hour or two. Then another group would start all over again. At night, it was much quieter, especially off Bourbon. A new walk for us was into a neighborhood called the Marigny, east of the French Quarter. It's a little edgier and local than that neighborhood. The Marigny is home to the jazz club, Snug Harbor, which often hosts Ellis Marsalis. He's been a jazz musician and teacher, primarily in New Orleans, for more than five decades. He's also father to four currently successful jazz musicians. After doing some research on jazz clubs, we bought tickets to his Friday night show. Marsalis led a fantastic jazz quartet. Watching them communicate and perform together was mesmerizing. Saturday was walking, shopping, eating, drinking, walking. So wonderful. The evening was spent on a tour of the French Quarter with a haunted history group. It wasn't the jump out at you and grab you type of tour. It was a walk and chat about various tragic events in the area that have led to some mysterious occurrences. It was quite fun. There are some stories and histories that I look forward to reading more about. After our tour, we found another place for great jazz, Fritzel's European Jazz Club. Completely different, but absolutely fun. This group was dedicated to keeping people happy and bouncing. They play a short set so the hostess can rotate a new group in for drinks and tips. They were highly entertaining! And hard to get a picture of... All of these things don't explain why I love New Orleans. I don't fully understand, so explaining it is pretty hopeless. It's the one city I know that simply fills me up. I'm satisfied in my belly, my ears, my mind, my soul and my heart. One reason I can name is the people - its residents and tourists both. Mind you, there are some in both categories that aren't easy to love, but, for the most part, everyone is fun to be around. The residents are happy you're there, especially since Katrina. They are interested in your story. They want to share part of theirs, and they're willing to go way above and beyond normal interaction - even if you're not eating at their table or buying their art or coming into their bar. They just make it fun to walk around. The tourists there are a different sort, too. Eye contact is easy to come by and is usually followed up with conversation. We met people from all over the place. We know that because we actually chatted. In lines, in restaurants, just standing around. It's almost like people want to confirm that others are having this same incredible experience. People, in general, are easier to be around in New Orleans. (And it's not the alcohol.) Another reason that I love New Orleans is our own history here. We started our life together there ten years ago. Highs and lows and lots of life later, it still meets us where we are. I love this city. Because I think it loves me back.

Anniversary!

Ten years ago today. It feels like a long time and it seems like yesterday! I love being married to Erick. It's the best thing I've got going in a truly great life.

Almost Ten

Our ten year anniversary is getting closer all the time. One of the things I appreciate about being married to Erick is that he lets me take self portraits of us as often as I want. I love this man. There is no one in the world I'd rather have my face pressed up against for posterity.

Snapshot

Sophia had the camera for a while the other day and snapped this picture of us. Yes, we had been posing, of course. We can't help it. Once I saw this picture, though, I just thought to myself that I really hope this is what Sophia thinks of when she thinks of her mommy and daddy.

It's certainly what I like to think of.

Also this.

Happy, happy birthday, Baby.

I love Erick's birthday almost as much as my own, and not just because it's another reason to eat sweets. I just love to celebrate the day he was born. I was 17 days old, and blissfully unaware that just one state over a beautiful baby boy came and brightened the world of those who knew him. I love to celebrate that day because without it, my life would be a whole lot emptier.

Happy birthday to the love of my life and my favorite person with which to be myself.

The Happiest Day of My Life

I have had many, many happy days in my life. But when I do a real evaluation, I cannot think of a day that I enjoyed quite as much of that light feeling in my heart, almost as if I might take flight. My wedding day met every hope and dream I had for it.

And nine years with Erick has been everything I hoped for and nothing I planned. As I think about it, my heart just might fly away.

Long, Wonderful Weekend

Erick and I had a wonderful weekend that just ended today. I love Columbus Day and the fact that my mom's in banking! That worked out more than a little well for us this weekend. We left Saturday morning and made a quick turnaround in St. Louis to check out an apartment. We got back to Hermann early afternoon on Saturday and stayed until breakfast this morning.

I can't begin to describe how perfect it was to spend that much uninterrupted time just the two of us in this ever so heavenly setting!



We took some nice long walks in Hermann. The weather was perfect, the leaves are turning and the scenery was captivating.



We ate at a restaurant in the middle of woods called The Cottage. Homecooking meets German cuisine. Delicious and unique!



The Hermann Hill Inn was the location of one of our walks, and here is a shot of Hermann from their vineyard.



When we came home today, we met Sophia in this sweet little dress. She had chosen the pattern and material for this, and Mom had done the work to make this beautiful dress. I am always surprised at her sense of style and how much it matches my mom's. We are so grateful to my mom for hanging out with Sophia this weekend so we could have this fantastic weekend. It won't soon be forgotten!

Home

Today is the eighth anniversary of the day that I made the best choice of my life. The day that a lot of hard work and a little craziness paid off so we could start our brand new lives together. Little did we know it was just the tip of the hard work and craziness iceberg. (And I realize that after 8 years, we've still hardly scratched the surface.)

Regardless of the craziness and challenge of life, most days (during this season of life) I feel pure joy at the fact that I get to wake up next to Erick. Well, maybe I should use a different example, because waking up in general is hardly a joyous occasion for me. You get the point... I feel more full of life and energy knowing that I have him to share it all with and yammer on to about it. This all sounds sappy, but the strangest part is that it's true. I get as excited as Sophia when he comes home, and not just because he can give me a little relief. Just because I love to be around him!

This is a great song about a love that is all joy and memories being created right in that moment. That's how I feel about our love. We have lots of silly, sad and glorious memories, but I'm usually too busy creating more to stop and think about them. Happy Anniversary, Honey!

Seven Years Today

Seven years ago today, I married my wonderful husband. Our love is stronger in every way today than it was all those years ago. I have had seven years with my best friend (corny but true), the best travel companion, Sophia's lovely dad and my devoted partner. Bliss. So why have I spent the day a teary and melodramatic mess, deep in the throes of a grumpfest?

It could be because we came home yesterday to an unexpected and sizable medical bill from my miscarriage. It could be because we stayed up too late this weekend, and I'm not great with little sleep. Or it could be because in order to be happy and feel my joy in our marriage, I'm opened up to feeling the losses that have been part of our seven-year journey.

Regardless, I can honestly say that I am content in my life today. I can also honestly say that I haven't had many sadder days. Wow, I'm complicated. Feel free to let Erick know what a champ he is for navigating through the labyrinth that is my soul.

Busy-ness

Sometimes, we just have those weeks. Erick has fifty places to go, and I have as many things to do in the opposite direction. We're smack dab in the middle of one of those weeks, and it's shaping up to be that kind of a weekend, too.

Don't get me wrong, I realize that we are in the minority of families who don't operate on this level of busyness pretty much all the time. A week with fewer commitments is the exception for most, not the rule. Right now, Sophia doesn't enter the picture with her schedule, so we are able to keep a tight reign on what we do and when. For some reason, the fall seems to be the one time of year that we can never control our level of activity. I haven't figured that out yet, but I'll let you know when I do. I think it's football somehow. So, here we are. I will see Erick for - no joke - maybe 3 hours this week between Monday at 8 a.m. to Friday at 6 p.m. The thing is, except for one night, we'll both be in town! It would almost be easier if he was just out of town the whole week. At least then I'd know what to expect and I would be completely operating on solo.

I had been dreading this week, but we had a wonderful weekend just relaxing together to prepare for it. I'm just saying, I think we will survive. I am very grateful that this is not how we operate. Maybe I'm needy or something. I just miss him - and I miss us - when life becomes this hectic. I can operate just fine by myself, but I choose to do life with him as often as possible.

Sophia won't suffer much as a result of this week. We'll both see her our usual amount; we're just taking turns at it. She's not crazy about so much time where the three of us aren't together either. Every morning, she asks Erick where he's going. When he tells her that he's going to work, she responds with, "That makes me a little sad." Me too. It just makes me grateful for the normal pace of our lives. I look forward to having that back some time.