Together

It must be Spring, as I am now semi-furiously writing a post before another storm hits us, potentially taking out out power.  More 70mph winds on the way - and a temp drop from 81 to an expected 42. 

Today marks my sister's 40th anniversary. 

While the numbers I publish here regarding 710 being together "longer", she was dating her now husband for longer than 710 and I have been together. They just have those hetero-norm dating / anniversary timelines. We didn't get that luxury. 

Though 710 and I were together at this time, he wasn't my +1. Actually, I'm not sure I got a +1. 

710 was in Austria with his best friend. I'm not 100% sure that he had met my family at this point. Brining your gay bf to a family wedding for the first meet-and-greet seems ill advised. I say that now - and for a while now - but at the ripe age of 22 (?) I was a little put out. 

This was the first wedding I was in. Hell, it was the first wedding I attended. 

I remember absolutely nothing about it.  

That is not an exaggeration. Nothing.

And - I might add - I was not drunk. Or high. I don't remember the ceremony. I barely remember the reception  - no food, no speeches, no hijinx. No garter. No bouquet toss. Nothing. 

I'm sure there was food. As for the rest of it - maybe none of that was part of the day. 

Save one other picture at my sister's house, if there are other photos from the wedding (besides the one atop) I have never seen them. 

If you must look closely, save the woman on the far left, the others women are my sisters. Yes. Multiple. Here, when I talk about my sister ever (Bailey's keeper), she's the one in the wedding dress. 

The guys in the photo?  I met them the day before the wedding to get out tuxes. If there was a bachelor party, I was thankfully spared an invitation. Those three other guys (and the groom) were at our table at my niece's wedding 39 years later. 

I take it back, I did see two of them a year or so earlier than this pic, when they were all drunk, found me in Columbus and they crashed on the floor of my efficiency.  .....a story I made sure to bring up at the reception dinner table this last November.

40 years later, between the bride and groom they have a new rotator cuff each and 3 of their 4 knees have been replaced. The rest of them is pretty much intact. And after 40 years, that ain't nothing. 

Song by: Michigander