Yesterday was our first anniversary.  A year ago on an equally beautiful day you drove from Los Angeles and I from Ojai to meet in Ventura for a 4 p.m. appointment.  Our wedding.  I remember the day as if it were yesterday, and in the scheme of things it was.

What to wear to marry you?  Did I get something new?  No, I chose a suit I had in my closet and pinned on a tiny gold hummingbird which had belonged to my mother.  We told nobody outside of your mother and my father.  We felt old enough, mature enough,  and so sure of ourselves to do this alone, no invited witnesses, no big church wedding, no stressing people over what to give us for a wedding present.  All we wanted, needed was each other.

A year later it is still all we want and need.  We are so fortunate to have found love again at this time in our lives.  We knew what we wanted, love, laughter, a sense of shared memories, and a partner through tough times and good times.  We both knew how precious life is, how each moment should be lived as though it is our last.  We never know when it will be, and the joy of being in your arms, your mere presence is  a gift.  I know you feel that way too.

I chose you to be my "last" lover.  This sense of having control over my own happiness is not in the least overrated.  These past 63 years have shown us some good and bad people and experiences, teaching us lessons we never thought we would need to learn.  From those we have were able to find ourselves and the few people we want to be with, whether it is family or friends old or new.  

Often we say how incredibly lucky we are, because in spite of the things we could complain about the cream of "us" always rises to the top. It skims the surface of our lives, pushing down problems to give us the sweet escape of each other.  The joy of us.  Nothing is better, and I appreciate how lucky we are to have found each other in this troubled world.  Within the muck and joy of life we are truly each other's island of happiness.  Thank you baby for showing me how much goodness is left. We are indeed very lucky!