In 1985, December 29 also fell on a Sunday. Friends and family gathered from near and far. And shortly after 4 PM, after more than 11 years of seeing one another, Leaves on the Current and I were married at St Mark Orthodox Church in Bethesda MD, where she still attends.
Almost three decades and we have seen our share of times both good and bad.
There were times when we thought we would lose the house I had bought the year before we were married.
There were times where we were totally excited about the things we discovered together, or shared with the other. A trip around Virginia that included both the Homestead and the Inn at Little Washington.
We struggled at times - not always sure we were going to stay together. We each carry our share of personal wounds into the relationship, and unless one is willing to surrender one's hurt that can be difficult to overcome.
When I left the Orthodox Church less than a decade into our marriage, that put a real strain on the relationship.
We have had our disagreements. We have had our shared visions.
Through it all, good times and bad, we have remained one another's best friends. That has helped through some of the problems of two difficult people sharing a life together.
We have loved - and lost - beloved four-footed friends, both feline and canine.
We have since our marriage each lost parent.
I would not have been able to become a teacher without her support.
I hope she feels that I have given her as much in return.
Now as we both age, me at 67 her approaching 57, we come to realize the importance of finding the time to continue discover the other, to have a sense of unending discovery, not to take for granted merely because there is so much shared history.
This past 11 months dealing with her cancer is surely a part of that. But that is not all.
In my case, I am beginning to appreciate how fortunate I have been in my life's partner. I had enough experience with failed relationships in the past to wonder if I might ever be able to sustain a long-term relationship. This one goes back to 1974, so I think there's hope.
Today? We will attend church together, where we were married.
We will go to dinner at a favorite restaurant in the countryside.
It will be low-key, taking the time to truly be with one another.
It is 28 years.
We are still counting.
We don't know how many more years. We will cherish each one we have.
Happy anniversary, sweetie. Thanks for putting up with me.
Peace.