4:18:58 & 4/20
Yesterday was a busy day in my family.
Down in Boston, my brother Brendan ran the Boston Marathon in support of TEAM FOX, the Michael J. Fox Foundation, and my mother, who lives with Parkinson’s Disease. My mom, my dad, my cousin Michael, and I all ventured to Mile 17 to watch him run. Luckily, we ran into his fiance, who jumped into the race with him and directed him to where we were standing, otherwise he probably would’ve missed us. He stopped just long enough to give my mom a hug, and slap the rest of us five, then he was back in the pack, and heading for Heartbreak Hill.
As soon as he passed, us spectators jumped on the T (the Boston subway, for those who aren’t familiar with the T), and headed into the city to see if we could catch him again as he passed the finish line. We got off at the Hynes Convention Center, which meant we had about a mile or so to go until we got to the finish line. As I mentioned above, my mom’s got Parkinson’s, and a bum knee, but she chugged along those city streets like it was nobody’s business.
Unfortunately, with thousands of people trying to do the exact same thing, we couldn’t get close enough to watch him finish; our friend Mark did, however, so we do have a photo to commemorate the event:
His official time was 4:18:58, which was a little slower than he hoped, but still in his desired range. So to my bro, I say, Way to go man! It’s a hell of a thing you did.
Now, the plan was that after the race, we would head to a bar where TEAM FOX was throwing a little party, hang out for beer or two, then head back to my parents’ place, where I would jump in my car, and race back to Vermont, where I would greet my wife of two glorious years…two glorious years as of yesterday…
…which is to say that yesterday was our two year anniversary (married-wise; she insists it’s our six year anniversary, since it’s also the anniversary of the day we first acknowledged our love for each other, but to piss her off, I say all the years before we got married don’t count anymore, so we’re only on number two).
Unfortunately, by the time we got back to my parents’ place, I was absolutely exhausted, and there was no way I would be able to make a four hour drive by myself, in the dark, in the rain, without falling asleep. So alas, Dawn and I weren’t together on our anniversary.
But you know what? One of the reasons we didn’t throw an actual wedding was that we both believe that love isn’t something you save up or show or commemorate on any single day. It should be expressed and celebrated every day. So for us, our anniversary, while sweet in its own way, is still just a day like any other, which is to say that the day before our anniversary and the day after our anniversary are filled with just as much love as the day that comes between them.
Because when you’re married to the person of your dreams, you never, ever have to wake up.
Happy second anniversary, my love.