Today

Today is January 6th, 2007.

Science fiction dates fur sure.  2007?

I rememember seeing "2001: A Space Odessey" when I was 13 or so back in the mid 70’s, and it seemed SO far in the future. 

Now, 2001 is six years behind us.

Today is or was and might still be (since I am aware of it and thinking of it) our twenty third anniversary.

23 years ago today (it wasn’t a Saturday), K* and I went downtown and got married by a Justice of the Peace in Providence, Rhode Island.

*

(George Throughgood is on the radio singing "Who do you love".  I know an answer.)

*

We went to City Hall and bought our marriage license.  Because I was on leave from the Navy, the blood tests (what are those anyway?) and waiting period were waived.  With the license in hand, we set out to find someone to marry us.  A JP was reccomended by the woman who sold us the license, and we went to his office to inquire.

"We can do it now, if you want" the perky receptionist said and we looked at each other and said "well, ok, I guess now is good".

The vows were said and the papers signed and we walked out as man and wife.  I remember when the JP got to the part where he says "Does anyone here have any good reason these two shouldn’t be married?  If so, speak now or hold your peace forever."  I looked around and saw no one I knew save one woman, and she didn’t say anything but "I do" at the proper times.

(we weren’t satisfied.  We wrote and held a marriage ceremony for our friends at the school my wife was attending, and had another, somewhat more meaningful ceremony and a reception in our apartment.  Her Parents were’nt satisfied either, and so the next year, when we moved to Japan, my wife’s home, we had a third ceremony.  It was FANCY beyond anything we’d done before – changes of attire (3 times), a ceremony in English and Japanese, a fancy dinner for dozens of people… and her beaming parents.  Now, 22 years later, her family wishes me well and remembers me… if not "fondly", then without malice and with good will)

That too could be worse.

Eleven and a half years later, we got divorced in Kobe, Japan.  It was cheaper, faster, and less of an "I guess we could now" thing.

I have known this woman twenty five and a half years now.  We still have a part in each other’s lives.  That woman has known me since I was 19, and if she still comes to see me every year, well, I must be someone to keep.

I know I feel that way about her.

Where to next?

I don’t know, but it is as it most always has been:

Upwards and Onwards.

*

The path is uncertain,

the way not clear.

I don’t know where I’m going,

and I don’t really care to know.

If the future was known,

why live it?

*****

Onwards.