Happy 10th Anniversary!

Today, at 11:00 a.m. EST, I will have been married for ten years.  Ten years!  It's as fun as the day we began dating in 1997.  July 24th, 1997 to be exact.  Surprisingly I don't remember what I wore on our first date...I usually remember events by my outfit, if you can believe it.  What I do remember is that I was ending the workday with my dad and when we got to the parking lot, one of the tires on our car was flat.  And, there was no time to spare because how was I going to be on time for my first date with a guy I really, really liked with a 45 minute commute home in Washington, DC traffic?  Not to mention, I needed time to change and more time to get myself to the restaurant to meet him!  While my dad started fumbling around in the trunk to get the spare tire prepared, I think I literally pushed him aside so I could takeover.  My dad was as handy as they come, and he taught me well.  Add to that a little adrenaline and suddenly I had that tire changed within 10 minutes.  "That's my girl!" is what I imagine my dad would have said had his jaw not dropped to the pavement.  I remember we exchanged glances.  Mine was more, yep, that's right, I'm awesome.  And his was more, did I just witness my daughter change that tire like a ninja?  Dad and I hopped in the car, and off we went.  The rest of the evening is a blur until I reached the restaurant to meet Russ.  I was still late, but once I was there, it was forgotten about and now, 14 years later we are happily married with a beautiful daughter.  It's no wonder I can't remember what I wore that night! 

Time is a funny thing.  Ten years seems like ages ago, and at the same time also seems like yesterday.  We still laugh and have fun as if our life together has been timeless.  My MS diagnosis was 3 years ago and just 6 weeks ago I decided to begin yet another new journey of wellness.  Since Tori was born I have kept an ongoing journal chronicling her development and "things" I want her to know, almost like a letter to Self.  Yet it is not a letter of regret in anyway, I would not change anything about my life.  I have been blessed with a good life, and an amazing family and group of friends.  However, what I would like to remind myself more of is to live every day to the fullest, remember the small things that make a person feel special and continue to try something new as often as I have the opportunity.

My dad's favorite quote was by Winston Churchill, "Never, never, never give up."  I want to dedicate this blog entry to him and Russ.  They have had their hands full with me over the years.  Full.  Sometimes I am too stubborn and independent to enjoy a moment for what it is.  The joke is always that I have ants in my pants and I am forever on my feet, putzing around the house until I just drop onto my pillow at night, regardless of how bad my leg is dragging.  When I was confronted with the reality of a possible wheel chair in my future I woke up.  I never intended on giving up or letting my guard down to MS.  I just kept myself busy enough to ignore it - but the MS didn't ignore me.  My leg isn't going to get stronger unless I consciously do something about it.  Mind over matter, right?  Not really, at least not in my case.  This is going to take a valiant effort!  My dad always kept me in line, and 10 years ago today he passed that torch onto Russ.  Poor Russ he would say. 

With great support comes some eye-rolling though.  I'm pretty confident about myself yet I think all of us can attest to the nagging associated with certain questions.  In no particular order, "Is that on your diet?"  "When are you going to the gym, it's been like two weeks."  "That's what you're wearing?"  "Are you sure you should be eating that?"  Usually my eye-rolling is accompanied with an exaggerated sigh.  But, I know that I am loved and these questions come with care and support.  I know I should be going to the gym.  Yes, this food is on my diet.  And no, I probably shouldn't be eating this but c'mon, I need a treat every once in awhile! 

And then I ask, "did you take the trash out?"  Wink, wink.  I love you!