A Baker's Dozen

I have been married for thirteen years today. My wedding day was sunny, though insanely cold and windy. It was a jam-packed day--the ceremony followed by a wedding breakfast followed by an evening reception with photo shoots interspersed. Ryan and I left our wedding reception and drove directly to McDonald's for cheeseburgers; we were starving, not having eaten a bite all evening. Then we drove to our apartment, counted the money that had been shoved in Ryan's tuxedo pockets all evening, and fell into an exhausted sleep.

Thirteen years later, we still fall into an exhausted sleep most nights, though we've given up McDonald's cheeseburgers for their slightly lower-calorie sister, the hamburger. We've created a life together that continually amazes, entertains me, and leaves me indebted to my younger self for trusting my inexperienced gut. I never could have imagined all that has taken place in the years in between then and now, the ups and downs, the victories and losses. He is still my closest and dearest friend. He still makes me laugh. He still makes me feel beautiful. He still doesn't clean the toilets.