Decade

Nine years ago, Grey and I celebrated our first wedding anniversary by taking a trip to the Oregon coast. After sleeping in naked, we spent the morning drinking coffee, collecting sand dollars and racing along the beach. Later that afternoon, I would attempt to hug a sequoia and then we would stop the first of many tasting rooms to sample the wine. There was the experience of making love in the room of a B&B that looked like it had been decorated by one of our grandmothers (lots of giggling involved with that one), watching Puffins dance on the Haystack and even hikes along broken trails.

But the part of the trip that still stands out is the last winery we stopped at before we made our way home. The tasting room was large and grand, but the winery was quiet. Upon meeting the winemaker, we found ourselves trying to back out of the room as fast as possible without appearing rude as he told us the story about his recent divorce and pined after his lost love. But as we were backing out, we found ourselves reading the posting, news clippings and reviews on the walls about the pinot noir this man was generating. Being brave, we ventured back in. And as the conversation shifted to wine, we learned that having a degree in biochemistry makes for one hell of a winemaker. What initially was a strange first impression became an afternoon filled with amazing stories, good cheese and one of the best pinots that has ever crossed my lips.

Two weeks ago, in celebration of Father's Day, I raided our "liquor" cabinet to find a bit of scotch to celebrate. Ignoring Grey's protests, I found myself confused to discover a number of bottles that were hidden in the back. Huffing at me, Grey told me to turn them around and it was then I saw the labels from that same winery. A wonderful anniversary gift.

Ten years I walked down the aisle to meet a smiling Grey. Looking back, on the good and the bad, the moments of abundance and despair, I realize that I wouldn't trade one second of it. Because it would mean one second without a man who I find myself falling more in love with every day. My best friend, my partner in crime. My soulmate.

Happy anniversary, Grey. Thank you for walking beside me for the last decade. I look forward to many more.