jay | Jul. 2nd, 2003

Two nervous people walked through the heat and humidity in St. Petersburg, Florida and pledged to each other, in the presence of family and friends. I couldn't eat the lunch afterwards (mushrooms) and we were late to the reception after the best man left the church with my car keys... but it was still a happy day.

Two decades... seems bizarre, somehow. I love

patgreene, now more than ever... it hasn't been happy-ever-after, it's been real-life ;-). There have been great joys, moments of terror, working together, periods when divorce seemed likely, periods of NRE/ORE, sickness, health, prosperity, poverty... rather than floating along serenely, at times we've slogged through like two punch-drunk boxers. Other times, bouncy and giggly and silly.

During those twenty years, we've raised three boys that I love more than I can express; gotten collectively 3 graduate degrees, including two doctorates; lived in Atlanta, northern California, and Washington, DC; bought a house; gotten a pilot's license; passed a Bar exam; gathered awards; avoided bankruptcy; kept each other sane and safe and intact.

There have been moments when I've been so angry that I wanted to leave, and friends coached me to do so. Other times when I've been so googly-eyed that I couldn't imagine living without Pat in my life. Perseverance, a degree of patience, pure stubborn bloody-mindedness and some willingness to self-sacrifice has helped.

I'd still marry

patgreene today. And even if she decided to leave me tomorrow, I'd still consider our relationship to be, and have been, a resounding success. And we're still growing and changing! Happy anniversary, beloved!