One year ago today, I believe it was your father who said it best: "I give 'em 3 years."
Clearly, your father is an optimist. I didn't think we'd make it through Christmas. After all, here is what you bring to our marriage: openness, compassion, forgiveness, generosity, a never-ending amount of patience and a knack for cooking. Oh, and a free house.
Here is what I bring: a smart-ass sense of humor, an ability to expel excess gastrointestinal vapors in new and exciting ways, a propensity for road rage and a continuous request for back rubs. Oh, and constant griping - while doing the dishes - that you typically need 278 kitchen utensils to make spaghetti.
Despite this, you've not only hung around, but apparently you're willing to stay a while. Which not only makes me question your sanity, but the legitimacy of a degree from Harvard. I know you're smart and all, but...well...scroll up and check those lists again.
The experts say that we should never stop growing, and so as we enter year 2, I resolve to grow as well. That is, grow the number of games I/we watch on our kick-ass high def TV. You can deny it all you want, but you and I both know there is nothing more romantic then spending the wee hours of a Friday night watching Marlins-Dodgers. I'll even let you pick the topping on the pizza.
Putting up with me is not always easy, but more often than not, you do it with a smile. Like anyone who knows me well, you know that I say what's on my mind, and most of the time, you grin and bear it...although you'll be pleased to know that after 4.5 years, I may have figured out that jokes about Satan and the communion wafers do not seem to be your favorites.
You sometimes ask me why I love you and it's not so much coming up with a list of qualities so much as it is appreciating the totality. You are a good person with a gigantic capacity to love; you're (reasonably) funny; pretty damn cute; and, you don't complain as you wash my running clothes twice per week. What's not to love?
As we look ahead to year two and beyond, we look forward to visiting Vegas and finally bringing home Vegas. That's right - we've already had the name tag etched out...whatever dog we finally end up with...his or her name is Vegas (Baby). We'll hopefully land a new set of wheels and there's a decent chance that you will finally get me more involved with church events, now that you have explained to me what's at stake.
Remember when you asked me to be more expressive in writing? I'm assuming this is what you had in mind?
Happy anniversary, honey. I love you.
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This is exactly what I had in mind... You made me cry--a shocker, I know. Your forgot to mention that I bring enough tears to our relationship for the both of us. :) I love you, too! Happy anniversary!
ReplyDeleteHappy Anniversary Guys!!!
ReplyDeleteLove,Jim and Nikki
Well done, Mr. Siegal. I can't believe that it has been a year already. All the best in the year ahead!
ReplyDeleteAm I the only one that heard thunder and saw lightning when I saw Jenn had written a response to one of Jon's blogs? #$@! man...now I got to be careful what I say here too. Who would have thought Jesus' buddies to be bloggers?
ReplyDeleteI don't know about the rest of us but I'm glad I didn't marry someone so close to Christ. I try to hide my bad things in hopes that it'll go unnoticed , but you Jon - you got a prophet of the Badass JC right there in your living room tattling on you when things go bad. So much pressure on you all the time dude! How you dont wake up up afraid to face the day, I'll never know.
That said however, I must commend you two for having such a banner year. You have both persevered through some trying times, and come out on top - -
You have overcome the fact that you are both from two completely opposite ends of the religious spectrum. To a lesser couple this would break them in half but not you two. Not only have you made it work, but its finally given Jon something interesting to write about. Way to go.
As a couple, you have dealt with always awkward issue of becoming friends with the friends of your spouse. Dont be fooled - this is no easy task - and you Jenn, you are a Superstar. Im not talking a Mary Catherine Gallagher superstar, but a full fledged Richard Simmons superstar of fitness type superstar. you have met with each one of Jon's friends, brought them into your home, made them feel comfortable and welcome, and accepted them as your own. You have taken them all in regardless of faults (Ace and Gary Gargano) and made them part of your family. On behalf of all of them, I would like to say thank you. A+
(There is speculation that this is because you have no friends of your own (except for JC) but Im doing my best to quash those rumors. Of course it is odd that I never met, heard of, or saw any one of your supposed friends - whats up with that??? Can someone say Single White Female?)
Together you survived a year Worth of Holidays. Sure Memorial day and July 4th are easy enough, but Im talking the hard ones like Arbor Day and Passover. Granted Jon, this is because Jenn took your place on all of your family events, but hey - they like her better than you anyway, so its a win-win in everyones book, is it not? Fantastic. Gold star.
You survived the pressure a getting a free house - and handled it like champs! (Jenn better than Jon, but still good). A couple of less character and grace could not pull this off- the the extra money every month would just tear them apart. But not you guys - you still drive in paid-off old cars, and continue to look for the cheapest way out of any situation. I commend you both for still pretending to be poor. We could all be so fortunate to take a lesson from your magical play book.
You have overcome the loss of a pet you never owned. Again, lesser couples would be packing bags, but not you guys. Not only have you completely forgot about the last pet, but you've decided to move forward with getting another pet, AND keep the original "Vegas" moniker!!! Truly outstanding display of your ability as a couple to regroup and put the past behind you. Excellence in motion my friends. Pure excellence.
You know when the time gets tough, I like to say to Sabine - "Sometime when the crew is up against it, the breaks are beating the boys, tell them to get out there and give it all they got and win just one for the Zipper." Doesnt make any sense to her, but man, it sure is funny.
But seriously....
Congratulations on your first year together. You provide a great example for all of us to follow and Sabine and I wish you nothing but the best from this day forward. May this day and the rest that follow be just like your first year together - full of never ending bliss, love, romance, understanding, tolerance, and a sincere appreciation for each other.
Mark S
I think Mark needs his own blog.....
ReplyDeleteThis is awfully late, in keeping with my poor habits when it comes to tending to people I care about, but: Congratulations, to both of you. A lovely post. Best wishes for the year ahead!
ReplyDelete