A Year Ago Today . . .

 
  The weather was a little chilly and threatening to rain. Bill's dress uniform had been pressed the night before.  My mother had flown in from Virginia.  Bill's brother, Johnny, was volunteered to take pictures.  The pastor met us out in front of our newly-named boat in the marina.  Our vows had been planned a few weeks in advance and the sand ceremony (a beautiful idea of the pastor's) was the perfect addition to our humble little gathering.  We even set sail the next morning across Galveston Bay for our honeymoon destination.

   A year ago today, Bill and I said, "I do".  There have been so many ups and downs in the last year that I couldn't possibly cover them all in one post.  However, no matter what, whether puttering down the ICW in the middle of winter, sipping drinks with friends in our cockpit at sunset, crying over our stubbornly dead engine, or exploring a new place, we have stuck together and only grown stronger.

   During our travels, we have talked to many couples that wonder how we maintain our unconventional lifestyle; how we sail, work, and live together in such close proximity without being at each other's throats on a constant basis.  So, how do we do it? . . . The answer is that this lifestyle simply works for us, and if you do a little perusing on the internet for other sailing blogs, you'll find that it works for other couples as well.  Does that mean that just anyone can buy a boat, outfit it, read a few books, and set sail for a circumnavigation?  Absolutely not.

   Bill and I have always worked well together, we love each other immensely, and trust each other explicitly.  If this wasn't the case, we could never do what we do.  Bill's sailing and maintenance knowledge is invaluable; he absolutely knows what he's doing.  As for myself,  I do my best to be an excellent first mate.  I am quick to learn, never afraid to get my hands dirty, and because of this, have gained a little bit of sailing saltiness along the way.

   Our way of life is one that would either make or break a couple.  For Bill and I, tying the the knot was a wonderful milestone; exactly two months after the wedding, we threw off the dock lines to begin our journey.  Through all the good and bad (yes, for better or for worse), we have had an incredible time together.

   We still have many years ahead of us and I hope we can spend as many of those years as possible sailing to far-flung destinations and maintaining our dream.  I am truly blessed to not only be married to such a wonderful man but, to be able to continually build our marriage with the time we spend together.  For some, the way we live would never work.  The time together would be forced; the difficult sails and mechanical failures would only serve as a wedge to further break weak bonds.  For us, and other couples like us, time together is a gift.  We savor the good times and learn from the bad.  Through it all, we are stronger, together.  The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.

    Bill, I love you more that you can imagine; This is for you, for us.  Happy Anniversary.

 

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