Thursday, April 21, 2011

Ten Years Ago Today ...

...  Annie and I gathered in a large church in front of our friends and family and recited the words "I Do" to each other.



Yep, it has been ten years since Annie and I tied the proverbial knot.

We met in 1997 as we were both servers at a little fine dining restaurant in the town where we went to college (Indiana, PA).  We became friends first but the chemistry was undeniable and shortly began dating.

That was my senior year and after graduation I moved away to work and we did the long distance thing for two years.  This is when most college relationships falter but Annie and I only became stronger.

On New Years Eve of 1999 I asked Annie to marry me and the rest is history.

When asked about marriage many people will tell you that it is filled with Ups & Downs and Good Times & Bad Times .... This may be true for many but I can honestly say that Annie and I have experienced an overwhelming number of the Ups & Good Times. We "get" each other in every way and this is why it has worked so well for ten years.

An example of how we "get" each other occurred just last night.  We had plans to celebrate our Anniversary by having dinner at a plush restaurant and then spend the night in a fancy hotel.  It was going to be fun and we were both looking forward to it.

Annie told me last night that she wanted to stay home and not do this?

I did not understand her reasoning at first but it was really for my own good.

Over the last month I have been overwhelmed with work, work travel, and Ironman training (totally a future post).  As the typical guy, I of course, was pretending that all of this stress was not bothering me and that I would just roll with the punches.  She knew better.  She could see that I was struggling.  She knew that I had guilt about the long weekends training and the recent time away for work.  She knew this better than I did and she stepped up because she could see I was struggling with it all.  She "gets" me - even better than I get myself!

We will still be having a nice dinner at a local restaurant and we will still get to spend time with each other just at home.  But I will not miss anymore training and will be doing a 6hr ride on Saturday morning now because of Annie's insistence that I do.

Thank You Babe.

Thank You for the last 10 years and Thank You for being the best thing to ever happen to me!

Happy Anniversary!

Thanks for Reading,

Jeff

40 comments:

  1. Congratulations!
    Is that an actual wedding photo? You don't look like you have changed a bit :)
    Almost there, and remember.... (take it easy and don't forget to embrace and enjoy the day). That holds for training also.

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  2. Awesome - Congrats Jeff and Annie on a fabulous 10 years!! Fabulous tribute.

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  3. Congratulations Annie and Jeff!

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  4. Awww...that was sweet! You guys sound like a great match. Congrats!

    And did you go to IUP?

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  5. Awesome - congratulations to you both! If the ups outweigh the downs then you're definitely doing things right. Happy anniversary.

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  6. Jeff, this is an awesome post! I love it! Congrats to you and Annie and here's to many many more years of happiness! :)

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  7. Congrats !!

    I hear ya on the stress overload

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  8. Good for you guys! Happy 10 years!

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  9. Congratulations! That is a good woman, you are a lucky guy : )

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  10. Congrats, Jeff. That's outstanding. You two are cute.

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  11. Congratulations, guys! Happy Anniversary. 10 years is an awesome accomplishment. Keep it going...

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  12. Congrats and Happy Anniversary to both of you!!!

    and

    today = 21st of the month.
    Isnt there a IM in May on the 21st?!!
    1MO. out!!!
    bring it on

    D

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  13. Happy 10th!!!
    Going on 10 also, May 19th!

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  14. Congrats on 10 great years and here is to a future of many many many more great years.

    And that is truly Awesome how Annie stepped up like that. It is truly a blessing when you have somebody who understands.

    Not to steal your thunder but I told Karen I wanted to do 70.3 Hawaii in 2013 after doing 70.3 Longhorn in October, 70.3 Puerto Rico in March, 140.6 IMAZ in November and then Hawaii in 2013. Her response: 2013 sure that works but if you were talking about 2012 that would be tough on you b/c of Puerto Rico. Nothing about money, nothing but concern for my body and well being. Then I went and shaved my legs and well she freaked out then.....

    Congrats to you and pound that 6 hour ride out.

    Union of Texas Member

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  15. congratulations on 10 happy years! it is so nice to read about spouses that really support eachother--here's to many, many more years of happiness together!
    enjoy that ride :D

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  16. awwwww. Happy Anniversary to you guys!!!!

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  17. Congratulations you two! Happy Anniversary! :)

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  18. Congrats to both of you guys! Especially to Annie for "putting up with you" haha. Sure you say she "gets" you. I know better ;)

    Those relationships are the ones that will last, constant adapting and nurturing of each other.

    Happy to know there are other people out there that still value marriage the way I do!

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  19. So happy for you guys. Congratulations

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  20. Awww...you two are too cute!!
    Happy Anniversary!

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  21. Congratulations to you both! You are both very blessed to have found each other. I feel the same way. Together for 24 years, married for 15 years in December. Life is good!

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  22. Happy Anniversary!! Supportive spouses are oh so important with endurance hobbies. I know you treat her just as well as she treats you, although I'm sure she wouldn't turn down an extra carat on her 10-yr anniversary gift either ;) I mean come on, it's the least you can do ... :)

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  23. What Lindsay said :)

    Love you!

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  24. Annie had a better picture and posted first. Congrats, none the less.

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  25. Happy Anniversary. Why don't you make IM Cozumel your next race. Some payback for all the support...

    Ironically, that's where we honymooned and it was fantastic.

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  26. :) That's so nice. Happy anniversary and many, many more!

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  27. How very sweet! Congrats on 10 wonderful years!

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  28. Congratulations!!! What a great post! It is so great that you guys are so in synch!! Happy Anniversary!

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  29. Congrats!

    Also.. Indiana, PA? so I am assuming you went to IUP???

    I am a Slippery Rock U. alum!!!

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  30. 1. Congrats to both of ya'll.

    2. Calls off a fancy dinner to set up your training = keeper.

    3. My wife went to IUP...

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  31. Happy anniversary! I'm also on tap for ten years in September. Where does the time go?

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  32. What a lovely couple the two of you make :)

    Happy Anniversary to you!

    It is truly magical to find and fall in love with (and have him/her reciprocate) and marry a person who 'gets' you…sort of like having a rainbow AND its pot of gold. Yes, that is super hokey, but I am pretty sappy and hokey when it comes to matters of the heart :)

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  33. Love this post, sorry I missed it earlier. CONGRATS to both of you!

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  34. I'm
    Freaking
    Bawling
    My
    Blue
    Eyes
    Out.

    I. Freaking. Love. This.
    You guys are awesome.
    "getting" eachother is where it's at.

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