Happy Anniversary to Us

It's our Anniversary today - We have been married for 17 years. Wow!

September 9, 1989. It was an overcast Saturday. Clouds were threatening to rain (and they did - but later, that's part of the story). I was still living with my Mom and sister just off 127th street, but I had moved most of my things into our new place on 124th street. I got up around 8 to do the last minutes things, get my hair done, get Andy to go get the flowers etc. My sister brought me coffee, and a card that said "On Your Wedding Day", that made me cry and still does everytime I read it.

Our wedding was at 2pm, and it was very small and intimate. Family and close friends, some from my work, some from Andy's and neighbors that had watched us grow up. Did I tell you I've known him since I was 7? LOL. Back to the story. There was about 30 people in all. My sisters friends drove me to the Church (in between bouts of rain) and we were there with time to spare.

The Priest we had had all of our meetings with was a nice Irish man, Father Cunningham. He phoned me the morning of the wedding to let me know that he had been called out of town on a family emergency, and another priest was going to marry us, Father Cordeaux. He was more upset than I was, but I told him I understood and all was well.

My sister was my bridesmaid, my best friend was my Maid of Honor, and Andy's Brother and Best Friend stood up for him. I didn't have anyone walk me down the aisle, and I remember wishing how much my Dad was still alive so he could have had the honor. I think he was there with me in spirit though.

After we said our vows, and our prayers, (there was no mass since I'm not catholic), we lit our candle together, and signed the register before he pronounced us Man and Wife. No sooner were the words out of his mouth, than it started to HAIL. It echoed on all of the stained glass panels in the roof, and EVERYONE looked up at the ceiling. My sister turns to me and says "It's the wrath of God!" It was hilarious! Our photographer, just at that moment, snapped a pic of our wedding party at the front of the church trying not to laugh.

The church we got married in is attached to a Senior's home with beautiful indoor gardens, and that's where we took our pictures. Then we went to the Edmonton Inn where we had a quick brunch, just the wedding party, before heading home to take some more pictures and have our reception. We had family, neighbors and close friends all come over for a buffet dinner that my Mom and Andy's Mom put together. We didn't want to rent a hall and then have to worry about cleaning up after, this was more fun.

So where are we now ? 17 years later, we have 2 great kids, careers we can live with and we're looking at finally getting into a house. We have some great old friends we've stayed close to, and have met some great new friends along the way. Would I change anything or do anything different? Nope. I married the man who knows me best (and likes me anyway!), and I'm looking forward to the NEXT 17 years.

Did I tell you I've known him since I was 7 ? That's another story ....