Do you remember one year ago?
The sweaty train ride, me worried about another bout of near-heat stroke? Arriving late in Changsha? Racing through the streets of a city we didn’t know to a registry office we weren’t sure was open?
Do you remember completing the forms and making our promise before the three uniformed women in a dark office? Or me, not being able to recite that pledge, written only in Chinese characters?
Do you remember it was 7-7, Chinese Valentines day, unplanned, and a fortuitous omen. It was if the fates had smiled and spread their blessings upon us. That was why I was rushed that day, panicked on the train as I looked at my watch, and ran through the station, hell-bent. We had to be married that day, July 31, 7-7, there could be no better beginning.
Do you remember the yet-to-be opened hotel where we shared our first official night? Or our wedding feast at KFC while trying to book plane tickets to return home? Or the police knocking on the door and hurriedly dressing, like caught teenagers, even though we had the papers to prove our union?
I know you remember. I do too.
Our first anniversary finds you in a different country, on a different continent. I write you this, 爱人, to show there are some things I will never forget.
我爱你。
July 31st, 2007 at 7:51 am
Sweet!
We had an anniversary recently.
I’m feeling a bit proud that I can read all of the characters in this post. I don’t think that’s ever happened to me before — I mean on a post that included some Chinese.
July 31st, 2007 at 8:15 am
Congrat on the reading. I can read about 1 of every 10 characters when I attempt it. Luckily I can recognize 20 letters of the English alphabet.
July 31st, 2007 at 9:58 am
Congratulations. What a beautiful picture and what beautiful sentiments. Thank you for sharing something so beautiful.
July 31st, 2007 at 10:13 am
I remember. Does that mean I can read?
July 31st, 2007 at 11:15 am
Very sweet!
Great looking couple too.
August 1st, 2007 at 1:00 am
What a lovely write up on your anniversary!
I hope you are together or your next one. I really like the way you set up the photo, too. A red rose for her–or your–teeth would be nice, but I suppose that’s pushing it.
August 1st, 2007 at 1:48 am
I didn’t even want to comment, because this seems so private between you, but that’s a really wonderful photo. And that little glimpse into your life together trumps all romantic bedtime stories all to hell.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:11 am
Thank you for the anniversary wishes and I send the same back to you. I hope your first year was wonderful. And my experience is that it only gets better.
My husband and I have lived apart for the past year. In fact, when I add up all the time we’ve actually been apart since we married, it’s been about 25% of the total time. We’re both hoping that once we’re come back together again in October that the separations thereafter will be brief.
However, we have got to experience the joy of seeing someone you love after a time apart several times over the past year. That has offered a certain sweetness that you don’t always get when you are together.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:29 am
Lovely. Congratulations to you both.
August 1st, 2007 at 7:58 am
Thanks for your well-wishes. This would carry more weight if my wife frequented this page. I guess it’s a silent tribute. I’ll show her when she gets home.