I Do, I Don't

I Do, I Don’t

It is my six-month wedding anniversary today. Well, it’s our six-month anniversary today. I have to give Adam some credit because if he didn’t show up we wouldn’t be celebrating anything today. I am sitting in my cabin thinking back 6 months ago going through my wedding day step by step thinking “at this time I was getting my hair done” or, “at this time I was regretting not getting shoe insoles” or, “at this time I was wishing the day wouldn’t come to an end” and so forth. Our wedding day was truly the most amazing day of my life, witnessing all of my friends and family together in one place at one time to celebrate our love and commitment to each other.

What we didn’t commit to was spending more than half of our first six months as a married couple apart from each other. There have been some unforeseen events that have made this happen, but I cannot stress to anyone how difficult this time has been for both of us. A few days ago was Adam’s 31st birthday, which I spent over an hour trying to get a satellite line out to wish him a happy day. A $10 phone card lasts one hour and six minutes. It sucks. There is a delay, and a big chance you won’t even get a connection when you want one. Internet is even less dependable, so I wait for ports that provide wireless hot spots so I can sit on ichat or Skype and enjoy lunch with Adam via the blurry computer screen. Not the way I imagined our first month’s together, but at least we have that.

Being away from Adam is, to say the least, painful. When we exchanged rings 6 months and 2 hours ago, we became a team, one force that became stronger than we ever were as individuals. And for the past few months, my partner has not been with me. I speak to several of my married friends about the power of wedding rings. It’s not a He-man She-ra kind of power, but some emotional power your feel. When we first got engaged, I wouldn’t do anything with my ring on my hand. I didn’t want to scratch it or ruin it. I would take it off to wash my hands, shower, or swim. Now, if I remove it even to clean it, something is not right. I cannot even sleep without it on. It is a symbol of love and fidelity, but it’s also a reminder of how strong we are, together or apart. Yesterday, I decided to clean my wedding band after several rounds of sun tan lotion and hand cream, and after taking all precautions to avoid a catastrophe, my engagement ring slipped out of my hand, and went down my sink drain.
If you ask my lovely room steward Alfredo, I ran out of my room in tears screaming something like “I ring my drain down please Adam kill me no!” I am happy to report that Alfredo retrieved my ring within minutes from the drain, and I told him he never has to clean my room again.

It wasn’t that it was a diamond ring, it is the fact that when I look down at my left hand, I realize Adam isn’t really that far away after all. (Cue violin music.) Since we got married, when we say goodbye to each other on ichat we always point to our rings to remind each other we really are together. Alfredo rescued more than just a ring from my drain; it’s my comfort and sanity.

So happy six-month-aversary honey. I miss you, and love you, and cannot wait until you come on board so I can show you how to dismantle the bathroom sink. I’m a pro now. Just ask Alfredo.