Decade
10 years ago tonight we were out with a group of friends and family in Madison, Wisconsin (Gretchen's hometown), drinking beer from a boot and listening to live polka music at the Essen Haus. We had a blast, although I finished the night feeling sick (probably a function of nerves and too many boots of beer).
10 years ago tomorrow night we were at Gretchen's parents' house for an informal rehearsal dinner, Wisconsin-style. Despite beginning to lose his eyesight (which we only learned later), her Dad grilled up brats and made pitchers of his famous Old Fashioneds, while we had a keg of beer on the balcony and gallons of Babcock ice cream (having a dairy farm on campus has its advantages). We had a blast, although Gretchen finished the night feeling overwhelmed and kicked us all out around the time the cigars came out.
10 years ago Friday morning (it was Saturday 10 years ago) I woke up and couldn't eat despite meeting friends for breakfast. I wandered around the Farmer's Market and State Street to kill time, at least until the heavy rain moved in. (Gretchen, meanwhile, was scarfing burritos with her friends.)
10 years ago Friday afternoon, in the church she grew up in, Gretchen became my wife. (Among the blurry memories: by mid-October the air conditioning was turned off, so between the lights in the church and the humidity from the rain, I was pretty much soaked through my tuxedo by the time the service was finished...our niece, who was the flower girl, had to go potty midway through the service...our nephew (her brother), who was the ring bearer, was telling knock-knock jokes with one of my groomsmen...the pastor talked about our Myers-Briggs types during his homily...when reciting vows, the pastor used my first name instead of my middle name (which is what I use), and Gretchen corrected him...)
10 years ago Friday night, we finally relaxed and had a blast at our reception. It hit us later that your wedding is one of the few times when family and friends from all of the different phases of your life are in one place. We danced (first dance: "When You Say Nothing at All" by Alison Krauss; father-daughter dance: "If You Want to Be a Badger" by the University of Wisconsin marching band), we laughed, we took lots of pictures (this was in pre-digital days, though, so nothing to post here), we (or rather I) snuck off to the bar to see game 1 of the Padres-Yankees World Series (which the Padres ended up losing in four straight games), and when the night was finished, we realized we didn't know how we were getting back to our B&B. So we crammed into the back of Gretchen's sister's car and they drove us across town, and once we got there I tried to carry Gretchen across the threshold and rammed her directly into the door frame (yes, I'm smooth).
And 10 years ago Saturday we really started our life together. And it's been a great 10 years.
All of which explains why we're leaving tomorrow morning for a long weekend in Charleston (with Mädchen, of course) to celebrate our anniversary. Should be fun, y'all!
10 years ago tomorrow night we were at Gretchen's parents' house for an informal rehearsal dinner, Wisconsin-style. Despite beginning to lose his eyesight (which we only learned later), her Dad grilled up brats and made pitchers of his famous Old Fashioneds, while we had a keg of beer on the balcony and gallons of Babcock ice cream (having a dairy farm on campus has its advantages). We had a blast, although Gretchen finished the night feeling overwhelmed and kicked us all out around the time the cigars came out.
10 years ago Friday morning (it was Saturday 10 years ago) I woke up and couldn't eat despite meeting friends for breakfast. I wandered around the Farmer's Market and State Street to kill time, at least until the heavy rain moved in. (Gretchen, meanwhile, was scarfing burritos with her friends.)
10 years ago Friday afternoon, in the church she grew up in, Gretchen became my wife. (Among the blurry memories: by mid-October the air conditioning was turned off, so between the lights in the church and the humidity from the rain, I was pretty much soaked through my tuxedo by the time the service was finished...our niece, who was the flower girl, had to go potty midway through the service...our nephew (her brother), who was the ring bearer, was telling knock-knock jokes with one of my groomsmen...the pastor talked about our Myers-Briggs types during his homily...when reciting vows, the pastor used my first name instead of my middle name (which is what I use), and Gretchen corrected him...)
10 years ago Friday night, we finally relaxed and had a blast at our reception. It hit us later that your wedding is one of the few times when family and friends from all of the different phases of your life are in one place. We danced (first dance: "When You Say Nothing at All" by Alison Krauss; father-daughter dance: "If You Want to Be a Badger" by the University of Wisconsin marching band), we laughed, we took lots of pictures (this was in pre-digital days, though, so nothing to post here), we (or rather I) snuck off to the bar to see game 1 of the Padres-Yankees World Series (which the Padres ended up losing in four straight games), and when the night was finished, we realized we didn't know how we were getting back to our B&B. So we crammed into the back of Gretchen's sister's car and they drove us across town, and once we got there I tried to carry Gretchen across the threshold and rammed her directly into the door frame (yes, I'm smooth).
And 10 years ago Saturday we really started our life together. And it's been a great 10 years.
All of which explains why we're leaving tomorrow morning for a long weekend in Charleston (with Mädchen, of course) to celebrate our anniversary. Should be fun, y'all!
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