Walking Down Memory Lane

Now that we’re getting settled into a routine again…I’m enjoying some quiet mornings just reflecting on so many things this summer. It was short, went by too fast, but also sweet.

While organizing some photos onto a jump drive because I don’t develop pictures anymore, I found myself day dreaming–walking down memory lane….

It was a hot sunny day, eighteen years ago on June 29th….my husband Kevin and I met a friend of his (retired Pastor) along Lake Michigan in Chicago and eloped!

I wish I had pictures to post, but unfortunately we didn’t have  a photographer. We didn’t exchange rings, no wedding gown, no tuxedo, no bridal party, no reception and no wedding cake.

All we had was the beautiful weather, the Chicago skyline, and a few guests…but no one we knew. They were actually rollerbladers, walkers, joggers, and others passing by, stopped for a quick glance . No one oohed or aahed or stayed to observe the whole short ceremony that I can remember (must not have been very romantic). Immediately afterward, we went out for Thai with the Pastor! As I recall…it wasn’t even that great of food either, but I was  a new bride and in heaven!

Our wedding attire? I wore my favorite GUESS jeans, a mauve blazer, and pumps. If I remember right, hubs sported a Ralph Lauren oxford and Z. Cavaricci baggies— (an 80′s hang over into the 90′s). When I think  of those ZC’s I want to start dancing to “Can’t Touch This” by MC Hammer!

Well, not only did we elope, but my parents were out of the country and let’s say…they didn’t share the same excitement we did when we told them the news! I think my mother-in-law at least sounded like she was happy for us over the phone. (I really think she was genuinely happy, just that kind of woman-precious).

I won’t get into the whole Vietnamese culture thing, but when my parents returned from their vacation….we had a “talk” and a second wedding date was set and took place a few months later in the church I grew up in.

We had the whole sha-bang with over 200 guests and an all out reception with Filet Mignon and shrimp. Hubs and I even wore the Vietnamese traditional wedding attire. But seriously, I don’t  believe a honeymoon was in our budget after that second wedding!

We did have a photographer this time around to capture some memories so that we can prove to the kids that we really did get married!

Here we are summer of 2009- eighteen years since our elopement on Lake Michigan, three kids later, a few disagreements, a lot of understanding, patience, grace, love….and  let’s just say WORK. No marriage is a rose garden and it took a lot of pruning of  selfishness that we each carried into our relationship to get to eighteen years. We haven’t arrived that’s for sure!

To make up for not having a real honeymoon, we’ve celebrated in Hawaii for our 10th anniversary and again this summer for our 18th on the tiny private ilsand of Lanai!!

Ten days with NO KIDS! It was A-M-A-Z-I-N-G!!

What a great day dream….walking down memory lane and the best is yet to come!

“Love at first sight is easy to understand; it’s when two people have been looking at each other for a lifetime that it becomes a miracle.” ~Amy Bloom

© Live Healthier & Happier

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Tagged as: Anniversary, Chicago, Elope, Hawaii, Lake Michigan, Marriage