Celebration Enough

Yesterday was a big day. But we didn’t realize it until it was over…

Yesterday, I woke up at 7. Not because my alarm told me to. And not because Dylan woke up singing Down By the Bay to obnoxiously bring me out of my coma (which he often does). But because I recently turned 60 years old. In bed by 10 and up before the sun.

It was a lot like any other day: Get up. Do everything in your power to lock Dylan out of the bathroom while you brush your teeth. (Because even though there’s plenty you could be embarrassed about, you’ll never get over your complex of brushing your teeth in front of people.) Eat cereal. Drive Dylan to work. Edit/email/schedule for the next 10 hours. Pick Dylan up from work. Pass on the gym because you’re going to get this wedding out tomorrow even if it kills you. Grill some turkey burgers because you didn’t go to the gym, and turkey’s supposed to be healthy. (Or something like that.) Then spend six more hours editing while Dylan heads to bed with a turkey burger-induced stomach ache.

At 11:47 I went to bed and woke up this morning just the same. Except this morning I realized what yesterday meant. One year ago, yesterday, Dylan asked me to be his wife. I’d missed our day. I didn’t get a chance to soak it all up. To reminisce about our engagement. And when you’re reading the blog of a girl who religiously celebrates her birthday in half-years rather than whole ones, you know that of course she’s going to want to celebrate this past year of her life as well. But we didn’t. It came and went with no recognition.

But then again.. Yesterday was a lot like any other day. I woke up and Dylan held me for a while. As I brushed my teeth and covered my face, he smirked to himself, knowing I’d never get over my complex of brushing my teeth in front of people. We shared breakfast and Sports Center, which alone is proof that I love him. I drove him to work and as he stepped out of the car, asked him to “Please, remember to pray for me today.” “Of course, Blue.” His typical reply. (He calls me Blue because of my eyes. I call him Brown.) Then, because we’re cool, we G-chatted. We talked business, home decor and turkey burgers. And he encouraged me when I needed it most. As I pulled up to 1000 Louisiana, he flashed me a smile. (He teases me for always being in a bad mood after my daily dose of rush hour traffic. But the truth is, seeing him is always my favorite part of the day.) Dylan left for the gym and came back soaking wet, as per usual. And after his shower.. When I apologized for smoking up the apartment and pouring too much olive oil in the pan, he laughed with me, hugged me, and said, “It’s alright. I love you.”

So no, we didn’t celebrate. But life together is celebration enough.

When we got engaged. Photo credit to the ever-amazing Gina Meola.