In celebration of our 25th anniversary, here's something I wrote just 4 tender weeks into our union.  Still every bit as enraptured 25 years later.

This time four weeks ago i was a single man, camping with a growing number of close friends old and new along the paths of Mt. Ranier, preparing for a wedding in three days time.  Less than four weeks of marriage and it seems like forever.

I mean that in a good way…an incredulous way.. like when you sink into a hot tub and the workday just dissolves and there’s no reality outside of the bubbles and pulsating warm water caressing and nourishing you.   I could stay in this hot tub forever, and that’s where the incredulous part comes in – I will!  “I do!”  I wake up each morning in her jacuzzi-embrace and come home from work to hug my wife and we share our days and our nights and I’M A HUSBAND!!

Of course the hot tub analogy breaks down quickly, it’s too limited.  A hot tub lets you escape from the world, close your eyes and pretend there’s no other world, and the drowsy relaxation wears off a while after getting out.  But this marriage brings the world alive, makes walking through the day a fuller, richer experience even after the “see you tonight” squeeze.  New colours, new people, new appreciations and perspectives – new eyes on a fresh world (I feel like a young poet again these mornings)

That’s why the wedding itself was such a wonder.  I do remember the vows still and the ceremony and the official stuff, all of which had meaning far beyond what a younger cynical rick may have believed.  But i more often look back on the fantastic assemblage of People who came from as far as holland, california, washington dc, texas…and really came Together to stand with us.  For that many people to care enough to come, to laugh, to sit in touchy-feely circles and share their experiences and insight, to help cook and clean and set up (again and again…), to reach into new people and make connections through us - it was far and beyond the most humbling and beautiful experience of my life.  

The vows of our families, and of our whole community’s “We do”, hums deep within me

One friend put a flower on each of our tents every morning.  Another connived a set of poles with purple ribbon and leaves for the ceremony.  Another turned those poles into roasting sticks for the marshmallow wedding cake, which our three brothers spent an hour creating out of marshmallows, chocolate and graham wafers.  The west coast folk created a delicious potluck salmon BBQ to welcome the out-of-towners.  Every time I looked, someone was quietly doing something beautiful

The wedding was also a lot of FUN.  Primitive camping,  hiking in Mt. Ranier, incredibly varied and even harmonious sing-alongs every night (including the reception),  camping meals being shared all around,  a set of skits based on our brief but colourful courtship,  a surprise wedding cake,  not-too-embarrassing toasts and photos (except for one that Ted brought from grad school…),  outdoor hot tubs overlooking the river and mountains,  having my hair done up in multiple ribbons and pigtails minutes before meeting Pastor Bob,  a morning-after swim in the glacier-fed river after which each swimmer got to chop off a chunk of that same hair (i still have a bald spot from brad’s handfull),  a silly icebreaker that had my cousin charlotte walking around muttering desperately “I need a seashell…I need a seashell…”,  and of course a rousing group-rendition of Love Shack as the latest edition of Mr. And Mrs. Juliusson left the reception for our flower-strewn candle-lit cabin (the friends who decorated it even tactfully removed the 4-foot model of the US Capitol building from over the bed)

Thank you to everyone who came, wrote, read, prayed, and has supported us in myriad ways.  This was truly a union of two communities, and the two fantastic worlds become one.

the She-In-Me is growing
rounding … flowing
deeper teals soften; accent; tone
accents the shining purple that was me alone
i’m rich-new in this glow
of the She-In-Me

the Me-In-We is learning
building … turning
stronger through communion; higher; full
discovering the how of how (to us) to give
such humble-joy to live
in the Me-In-We