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Today is our wedding anniversary.
Those of you who knew Kevin well, know he had complicated feelings about marriage. We had been together for 14 years when we finally married, after many long and arduous conversations. I had wanted to marry for some time, but he was resistant. Because we were moving to Missouri, a former slave state and one with active KKK etc, it seemed wise to give our relationship legal protection. While this wasn't the only reason for our marriage (it wouldn't have happened at all without the love and commitment) it was what pushed him over the edge to be able to say yes.
We didn't tell many people we were getting married, but instead had a pop-up wedding at our going away party, hosted by Tony Toledo. I remember walking to the venue to set up for the party and looking at each other. I don't know which one of us asked, Are you ready and who replied As ready as I'll ever be, but we went in and the party began. After awhile we got up to "say a few parting words" then Kevin dropped down to one knee and asked me to marry him (I wasn't expecting that part). I said yes, and lo and behold, there just happened to be a minister, a huppa, and a marriage license ready to go.
It was fun, watching all of the surprised faces, and it was lovely publicly stating our connection and love for each other. It was wonderful stating our vows, including til death do you part.
By our first anniversary he was very sick, though yet undiagnosed. I remember he apologized for not doing anything special, but he was so ill we couldn't. We'd been seeing doctors who stuck by gastritis and back issues, but I knew it was something more. Anyway, on our first and only anniversary celebrated together we had something inconsequential for dinner, sat on the couch and reread our vows to each other. It was loving and sweet.
Each year since I've reread our vows myself.
Today is, of course, bittersweet. On anniversaries like this one I have taken to thinking about how different my life is now from what I expected. It is no less sweet, but it is not what I thought I would have. I live in a house Kevin would love, with a dog he would adore, with a man he would really like (and with whom he would enjoy discussing the awesomeness of Captain Sisko), doing the work he helped me grow into. He would love this life and yet he is not here with me in any physical form.
While my life has changed the love has not. I remain so grateful for his time in my life. Kevin was and is the love of my life (so is Charley - love doesn't have to be a scarce resource). I am grateful for what we had and that now, almost seven years past his death, the sweet memories outweigh the painful ones.
I've written many times that if you are lucky you will grieve deeply because it means you love and were loved deeply. I am so very, very lucky.
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