TEN YEARS GONE

Then as it was, then again it will be
And though the course may change sometimes
Rivers always reach the sea
Blind stars of fortune, each have several rays
On the wings of maybe, down in birds of prey
Kind of makes me feel sometimes, didn’t have to grow
But as the eagle leaves the nest, it’s got so far to go

The title and above lyrics are sung by Robert Plant and Led Zeppelin. It is one of the least well known songs in their catalogue, but one of my favorites. As with all songs, a message intended by the composer can be interpreted in a myriad of ways. As I write this on August 3, 2023 I mark ten years gone by of the day I married my best friend Vanessa.

We had a church wedding in a small town in New Hampshire where our family lake property is. The day was warm, sunny and breezy. When we reminisce, we remain so happy at both of our lives coming together with family and friends that had never all been in the same place at the same time: extended family, childhood, high school and college friends, work friends, old students turned friends, musician friends, and even a couple of pets.

We threw a huge bash in our field, with a live funk band under a big white tent. We had a catered barbecue and a ton of wonderful finishing touches added by Vanessa. What was really memorable was the people. Since we have the space, many people tented out for the night so the festivities rolled on long into the evening. When Vanessa and I finally petered out, I tried to hold onto the pictures in my head, as they day was a blur.

Today I was on the same field where the wedding party took place. This time I watched my 2 boys playing ball. It dawned on me that ten years have gone by awfully fast, but what a decade it has been: A wonderful, loving partner, who is always up for amazing trips, adventures and fine food….mostly made by her, but when we venture out, we can be food snobs or suck down tacos with the best of them. National and international trips. The births of both of our sons, an expansion of our home, both in humans and in square footage, a million laughs, old and new friends, the purchase of a second home with my sister and brother-in-law to make more memories in, many great years of helping kids have positive music making experiences, as well as teaching life to thousands of adolescents, a career change, being able to refocus my passions around helping others live the best lives that they can. Meanwhile I have watched, at times in awe, of how Vanessa can remain perfectly calm in situations where I am about to lose my mind (dying wheelchair battery, non-accessible bathroom, kids are going nuts etc.). She cooks, cleans, gardens, crafts, researches family genealogy, teaches Spanish full time and finds the energy like obtain a donated bike and have it repaired for a student living in town that escaped violence and struggle in Venezuela. Team work makes the dream work. Like every couple, she occasionally would like to leave me in a ditch, while I wonder which room she is going to paint this week, but at the end of the day, we are better together, and I believe that we encourage each other to be better functioning humans (most of the time)

To all of you who shared our party ten years ago: Thank you and we love you.

To all of you who share or journey now: Thank you and we love you.

To my partner in this life: What are your thoughts for dinner?

Ten Years Gone. God willing, many more to go.

Stay safe, stay awesome, and stay tuned.