1. “Holy crap, am I really doing this (not even 6 months previous I was still a teenager)?!
2. “Oh man, she's beautiful (as her brother escorted her down the aisle). And in about 6 hours we'll be finally cashing in our 'v-cards' (looking at watch all evening)!”
3. “Damn these tuxedo pants are uncomfortable (even with maxed-out adjustable waist, already gaining weight), I *knew* I should have gone one size up!”
++++++++++
It all starts with an engagement ring (I proposed early '87), I remember spending ~$700.00 on it, bought it at a Zales in Cortana Mall. Which means I probably grossly overpaid for a very tiny rock (with elevated prongs to make the diamond appear bigger), but she's always been happy with it (never was high-maintenance, quite the opposite, thankfully)...
Wife getting ready at my parent's house, me goofing around outside of Community Center...
We pulled off a $2,000.00 wedding (selling her Dodge Omni to pay for it) for ~100 people, including her dress, food, cake, liquor (beer only), photographer, everything! Only because so many people (mostly our families) helped out so much with arrangements and food, they knew our (and mother-in-law's) situation. We were also lucky that her cousin had a VHS camcorder (the big kind that rested on your shoulder or stand) and offered to tape our wedding and reception.
The newly renovated Community Center was only $50.00 (both wedding and reception) but required us to wait in line outside for a couple of days to reserve our date (often taking turns). Very small town, everyone knows everyone so at least you camped out with people you knew, it was actually kind of fun. When the wedding ceremony was over, tables were brought out and chairs rearranged for the reception, keeping the middle open for dancing.
More pics...
Only later when I saw the pictures did I realize that I already had a bald spot at 20...
And never forget, women need to be romanced (unfortunately I did forget this for about 20 years)...
The paperwork (secular wedding performed by the town's Judge)...
The Judge told us that he had never performed a full-scale wedding before, and later others would follow (telling us how impressed they were). Man, looking over the 'lyrics', I forgot just how short and simple our wedding ceremony was.
++++++++++
So, how are we going to celebrate our 30th Anniversary this evening? A nice dinner out? Watch the wedding tape (converted to DVD)? Reminisce about our honeymoon (St. Francisville Inn, a little Victorian-styled bed and breakfast about a 45 min. drive northwest of here, all we could afford)? Nope, none of the above...
Wife has been in bed with the flu since Monday (Influenza A), in 'quarantine' until Friday (some heavy meds she's on, I'm about to pick up my own preventative prescription after I post). Our flu shots a few weeks back were apparently ineffective. But that's the breaks sometimes, it's just an inconvenience, we can celebrate later.
Despite some rocky times (nothing fatal, just cumulative mistakes and disconnects over the years), we both agree that being together was meant to be, that the many ruts we found ourselves in were worth clawing our way out of. So I guess that attitude ultimately trumps all.
I plan to revisit or repeat this thread on #50 (in 20 years).
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
Inline advert (2nd and 3rd post)
#4399115 - 01/09/1806:41 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
I will have my 3rd wedding anniversary in April this year
Chlanna nan con thigibh a so's gheibh sibh feoil Sons of the hound come here and get flesh Clan Cameron
#4399118 - 01/09/1807:01 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,478PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,478
Miami, FL USA
Congrats on your upcoming 30 years Mark!
Were you dressed for a wedding or a prom in those pics?
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4399119 - 01/09/1807:03 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Jun 2002 Posts: 11,946Crane Hunter
Veteran
Now that I think about it, living in a small conservative Southern town, we were probably a few years behind the times (think Napoleon Dynamite).
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4399123 - 01/09/1807:16 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Apr 2001 Posts: 121,478PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
PanzerMeyer
Pro-Consul of Florida
King Crimson - SimHQ's Top Poster
Joined: Apr 2001
Posts: 121,478
Miami, FL USA
Yeah, those fashions look more like early 80's than late 80's.
“Whoever fights monsters should see to it that in the process he does not become a monster. And if you gaze long enough into an abyss, the abyss will gaze back into you.”
#4399124 - 01/09/1807:18 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
I'm on Year 13....with wife #3. I think this one will be a keeper.
4H_V-man
System Specs: MSI 870 A-G54 AMD X4 Phenom II @ 3.4 ghz 8 Gb DDR3 1333 RAM 1 Tb Western Digital 250 Gb Western Digital 320 Gb Seagate Radeon HD 6970 graphics Thermaltake 650 Modualar power supply Thermaltake Element V full tower
#4399143 - 01/09/1808:30 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
One of my cousins told me he would, in silver sharpie, write "HELP" on the bottom of one shoe and "ME" on the bottom of the other so when nealing at the altar, everyone would read it. He made me so paranoid, I had to check the bottom a couple of times before the ceremony just to be safe, all the while knowing there was no way he could because I had the shoes on already. Fricking mind games.
#4399160 - 01/09/1810:27 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
I pulled out those pics and documents and then wrote a post about it as I was feeling down about this evening, but everything will be re-planned. I started taking Tamiflu today and feeling fine, wife also on Tamiflu and a nasal spray (after getting a steroid shot) and says she's feeling better.
Originally Posted by Raw Kryptonite
Congrats! It’s good way to live that fewer and fewer come to know these days.
Well, I don't mean to paint my marriage as some shining example, far from it (and I won't rehash the negatives right now ). I think everyone has to follow their own path, even if not the traditional ways, to find what works for them and makes them happy. Cliché I know, but whatever it is you want, as I'm learning later in life now that I believe I finally do know what I want now, you have to work for it. I still have to keep a bad attitude in check (I blame 90's Grunge ), also have a lazy streak. I remind myself constantly to make better decisions, to appreciate what I have and to show it with my actions as well as my words. Gotta ways to go yet.
I did make *some* good choices though, I'm convinced of that.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4399202 - 01/10/1809:50 AMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
It's evident from your posts here that you are both making it work, consciously and with loving effort. Not too many people have that skill and energy over such a long time.
#4399218 - 01/10/1802:04 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
"Also, I would prefer a back seater over the extra gas any day. I would have 80 pounds of flesh to eat and a pair of glasses to start a fire." --F/A-18 Hornet pilot
#4399224 - 01/10/1802:34 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
The tux still isn't as bad as the light blue 3-piece suit I'm wearing in this 1984 Polaroid (our first pic together, also in my parent's living room).
This is about the same time my 8-track collection was peaking so yeah, I was a bit behind the times.
++++++++++
I'm hesitant to post group pics on a public board (even an obscure one like SimHQ) but I took this one low-res enough, I think...
I'm looking forward to watching the wedding/reception video again, it's been a long time. Maybe later today if we're up to it.
Last edited by MarkG; 01/10/1803:46 PM.
The rusty wire that holds the cork that keeps the anger in Gives way and suddenly it’s day again The sun is in the east Even though the day is done Two suns in the sunset, hmph Could be the human race is run
#4399248 - 01/10/1804:21 PMRe: 30 years ago today, I remember thinking...
[Re: MarkG]
Joined: Dec 2000 Posts: 22,405letterboy1
(Heterosexual)Tchaikovsky Ballet Fan
letterboy1
(Heterosexual)Tchaikovsky Ballet Fan
Lifer