Feb, 3, 2001

Such passion, right? I listen to this song, and seriously, it makes my pulse race. Ten years ago today, I married Bill Leiper. I remember it like it was yesterday. Like it is supposed to be. We went to the Little White Wedding Chapel via limo, and we celebrated our love together. Just us. I will never forget when Pastor Stone...with his very thick southern accent, instructed us to walk down the aisle of the Red Room. He told me to take Bill's arm. He then said, "Hang on dahling, cause it's for life!". Okay, at first I panicked a little, but I took Bill's arm, and as the music started, proudly walked down the aisle as well, no one watched.

It was full of passion, love, and so much, desire, if you will, to just be together. To share our lives, our kids, our home. There was so much to see, to learn, to digest...it was overwhelming! But from the minute our friendship developed into more, we just knew...

In the ten years that we've been together...we have done so much. Bill changed my life in such a way, that I never even knew existed. Our first anniversary, was totally the most romantic weekend of my entire life. NYC. Belvedere Hotel. Cabaret at Studio 54. Brunch at The Park Plaza. I remember thinking as the door man whistled for the cab...I could get used to this!

Of course, that was just one crazy weekend...then reality set back in! HA!

Bill and I have lived a lifetime in the ten years that we've been together. We've seen our kids through the "gray" area, we've married a few off, we've become grandparents, and we've been through that thick and thin they talk about on your wedding day. When I talk about life being a roller coaster, I ain't just whistling dixie! It goes fast, up and down those hills, and sometimes I feel Bill is barely hanging on to the end car, legs flapping in the wind! Now there's an image, isn't it! We've bought a home...and it was so perfect! We had parties, and milestones, and reached our highs and lows. We moved across the country! We became empty nesters together. (He got me Max to soften the blow! LOL). We've gone to counseling. We've been on cruises. He showed me places I never thought I would see, and I know there is more to come. He made me believe that I do deserve to have a great life. A great guy. A great marriage.

With our marriage, we packed in a lot of baggage. We've dumped a lot of it out...we learned to just shut it out and look at what we have going for ourselves. It isn't always easy. It isn't always hard. It sometimes, just isn't.

Along with the ten year anniversary, comes a little baggage. My ten year anniversary with Ron, was the beginning of the end for us. It's funny, but even now, I have little flashbacks of the little signs that I begin to see on that 'anniversary trip' we took to 'celebrate'. I've noticed that I have been very hesitant to do anything for this anniversary. This ten year mark. This milestone. I realized that this is why. Some of that baggage still lingers...even twenty years later. Even after ten years of marriage. Even after Ron's death.

But, Bill being Bill...can always make me feel...worthy. He brought home a beautiful anniversary ring for me tonight. It replaces the band we got married in...but it's like renewing the next ten years. I loved the ring, but it was weird as I really didn't want to take off that little band. The band he bought for us in CT as he came to AZ to meet me so that we could go to LV to get married. See...always the roller coaster. I wore that little band proudly until we picked out my diamond when I moved, and I've worn them both every day for the last ten years.

Bill has always wanted to make me happy. Whatever I wanted, came first beyond anything. So, today, after kind of a rough day of 'flashbacks', and with the beautiful ring and all it stood for...I then listened to 'our song'. Let's Stay Together. First by Al Green. The first time Bill came out to visit, we went to a little bar at the Smugglers Inn and listened to music. It took a few drinks, but he finally wanted to dance. This was the song we danced to...and it became our song. But mostly, because of what the song said, it's meaning, it's passion. I can still picture us on that dance floor, all smoky, looking into each other's eyes, and just feeling those words. Today, our anniversary, this song still rings very true. We've stayed together...whether times were good or bad, happy or sad. Listening to it, I felt those feelings I felt for Bill waaay back when, when he made me feel brand new. I realized that he still does.

Things have changed. Fires have dwindled, and life has come at us fast...sometimes too fast. We got caught up in it. But we still have each other...we are still good friends, we still laugh together, have fun together, experience life together, and yes, love each other. Life changes...marriages changes, but I guess...you just have to take a minute every so often and listen to the words of your song. It's almost like renewing your vows.

Ten years. We done good. Can't wait to see what the next ten will bring.


From: http://www.elyrics.net/read/a/al-green-lyrics/let_s-stay-together-lyrics.html]

I'm, I'm so in love with you

Whatever you want to do

It's alright with me
'
Cause you make me feel so brand new

I want to spend my life with you

The same things (?), baby, since we've been together

Ooh, loving you forever

Is what I need

Let me be the one you come running to

I'll never be untrue

Ooh, baby, let's, let's stay together

Loving you forever


Whether times are good or bad, happy or sad

Why somebody, why people break up?

Oh, turn around and make up

I just can't see

You'd never do that to me (Would you, baby?)

So to be around you is all I see

Is what I want us to

Let's, we ought to stay together

Loving you whether, whether times are good or bad, happy or sad


Let's, let's stay together

Loving you whether, whether times are good or bad, happy or sad