Daily Newsie

I placed an emergency phone call to my father this evening when the internal wedding pendulum that’s been ticking happily between “I’m OK” and “I’m panicking” began to list a little to the frantic side. He, in his straightforward, honest way, gave me the secret to marriage: Remembering in dark times the vows you recited in happy times. Going to bed angry if it gives you some time to cool down and be alone with your thoughts. Realizing that there will be rough patches, but not giving up when they hit. Knowing without a doubt that this is the right decision to make, and that this person is the right one to be with. My father thinks I’m with the right person, and — between moments of crazed terror — so do I.

I’m thinking of this marriage like I think about my family — we have seen each other through proud moments and embarrassing times, celebrated events with incredible joy and mourned losses with interminable grief, and by turns grew closer together and farther apart. But in the end, we are family, and we love each other enough to get past the crappy stuff. I hope with all my heart that The Fiance’ and I can be that sort of family, even if it involves sleeping on the couch a handful of nights along the way. I’m sure there will be times when we don’t like each other very much, but if we can follow my dad’s advice and remember the vows we’re now less than 72 hours away from saying, we’ll be OK.

This may be my last post as a single woman. That thought is both wonderful and a bit sad — but mostly wonderful.