Sunshine, sandy beaches, and blue skies. We’re no longer in Portland, Toto! “They said California is the place we aught to be… to celebrate our Seventeenth Anniversary”…plus 7,061 days of being together.  I arrived at our Le Merigot J.W. Marriott on Hotel on the Santa Monica beachfront, while my wife was finishing up some business calls. I did the unpacking and ordered our first tray of traditional chocolate covered strawberries. We were married at 12:30 p.m. in the East Chapel at the Bellagio Hotel in Las Vegas in 2001, while attending industry meetings of the National Association of Broadcasters (NAB). It was far from our dream of a destination wedding, but circumstances called for compromise.

The ceremony was beautiful and we were the only couple in attendance, but a jackpot on the way to our vows nearly derailed these plans. It was long before the time when winnings were digitally added and the sound of quarters rattling in the metal collection tray was simulated. We had to patiently wait for each quarter to fall, with the time we set aside to get dressed for the ceremony rapidly ticking away. Suddenly, the flow of coins stopped and a red light at the top of the machine started to flash. The attendants were not responding quickly enough to the alarms calling for them to refill the machine so that the remainder of the jackpot could be paid. It took seemingly forever to finally get our money, and we rushed back to our room to get ready, barely “getting to the church on time.”

My wife was pleasantly surprised at how classy our ceremony turned out to be, especially after watching a video years prior of my first wife and I being remarried by a fake Elvis comedian. A photographer then took photos of the two of us in the beautiful Bellagio rose gardens and conservatory. The night before our wedding planner had arranged for a limo to take us to the courthouse to get our marriage licence. We dined at Delmonico’s in the Venetian, where a cake was presented with a Limoges bride and groom topper. I pulled out a silver serving knife from my tux pocket to finish off the presentation. Finally, we enjoyed a Bellagio Honeymoon Suite where we called friends and family to spread the news of our union.

The next day we had to move all of our flowers and luggage to a standard room and a couple of nights later to the less impressive Rio, more in-line with the company convention budget. Before we knew it, the glow of being newly weds was behind us and we were suddenly back at work. Each night after the wedding seemed like a giant step down to reality that culminated with a tearful parting. One night a mutual boss took us to Michael’s at the Barbary Coast for an elaborate celebratory dinner, and I stole one of their pink embroidered napkins as a souvenir (it had my name on it!)  After four days together, she caught a plane back to Indianapolis, and I started attending business meetings, so there was no time for a fantasy Vegas Honeymoon – in fact, there really wasn’t one at all. We justify this decision by reminding others that the honeymoon never ends if you don’t have one.

We’re still on that honeymoon here in Santa Monica and celebrating tonight with a romantic, sunset dinner at The Lobster, on Route 66 overlooking the Pier. It seemed an appropriate spot for the sunset, more chocolate covered strawberries, and a martini or two. We’ve already exchanged gifts so I will simply read this poem as a toast to seventeen years:

Sweet Seventeen

We’ve now been married,
For seventeen years.
And still in love,
Despite any fears.

We fondly dreamed,
Of a beach ceremony.
A romantic location.
For vows of matrimony.

It became complicated,
To include our kids.
So our best laid plans,
Hit the skids.

Vegas could work,
Meetings to attend.
An exotic place?
We could pretend.

A slot machine,
Nearly got in the way.
But it was truly,
A special day.

We said “I Do,”
At half past noon.
With little time together,
For a Vegas Honeymoon.

The East Chapel ours,
At the Bellagio.
The Rose Garden,
Took on our glow.

The fountains danced,
As I kissed my bride.
The night before,
Was our limo ride.

Delmonico dinner,
A cake to cut.
Strawberries dipped,
In milk chocolate.

The NAB Convention,
A manager perk.
A Honeymoon suite,
Then back to work.

We celebrate our love,
Happy Anniversary, dear.
On Route Sixty Six,
Lobster near the Pier.

Santa Monica Boulevard,
We’ll have some fun.
Enjoy the pool,
And get some sun.

Reminisce about,
How it all began.
Steal a kiss,
Whenever I can.

Spend some time,
With the woman I adore.
Snuggle in the sunset,
On the Pacific Shore.

Hundreds of poems,
Yet the words I can’t find.
To express how often,
You’re on my mind.

A greater love,
I can’t envision.
To marry you,
My best decision.

Jewels for you,
From gorgeous Santorini.
A toast to our love,
With this triple-x martini.

4/20
Day 7061