livelovelaugh: 5 Years

Thursday, October 24, 2013

5 Years

Time is a subject that a lot of people write about. I have written about it plenty. Since Allie died, I saw time as a chunk or space of my life without her.

Today I want to reflect on the passing of time in a good way.

5 years ago this evening, Gary and I went out for drinks. Drinks turned to dinner. Dinner turned to me practically moving in a few months later. Everyone was worried it was too fast. I was freaked out. Gary was calm as ever. It was right. He just knew it.

The first time Gary told me he loved me, we were in the parking lot of a movie theater. I said something along the lines of "No you don't" which is what every guy longs to hear, I am sure. I just did not see how he could know after dating for such a little time. He said he just knew it.

It took longer for Gary to propose. To be fair, it was less than a year from our first date but when I decide I want something, I have NO patience (most people reading this blog have an example of this trait). When he did propose, it was in the parking lot of the restaurant that we went to for our first date. He was so excited that he could not even wait till we went inside.

Tonight we are going back to that restaurant to celebrate 5 years of our lives together. Hopefully we will make it past the parking lot! (Thanks to my brother and sister-in-law for babysitting!). While there, we will surely reminisce. Here is some of what 5 years means to us:

family
love
honesty
security
faith
life
death

My gut instinct is to say how sad it is that we have experienced death the way we have in our short time together. But then I realize that I would not change a thing. Having Allie, and later having to say goodbye to Allie, has made us who we are. Stronger than ever and more dedicated than ever. Experiencing a loss like we did almost laid the ground work for our relationship. Would we be the couple that crumbled or the couple that got it together and plowed forward? Some days were not our best, but all in all, at the end of the day, there is no one I want by my side more than my husband. My partner. My best friend.

5 years since we walked into the restaurant with 2 different lives only to emerge with 1. I can't wait to see what the next 5 and then the next 5 and then the next 5 years have in store for us. One thing is for certain - we will face it head on and keep on going. That's what we do. I just know it.