Happy Anniversary
Two years ago, today, Nate and I were married. We still have fond memories of our wedding celebration, and we’ve built so much together since then. Our wedding day holds so much significance, but in the grand scheme of things it’s just a reminder to spend some time together and do something we enjoy.
We’ve yet to develope a tradition for our anniversary. Granted, this is only our second, but we’ve managed to create some rather interesting other traditions in our short time together. For example, every year on March 19, we go to the Wing Dome and have wings and beer for dinner. That’s probably the only day of the year you’ll find us at the Wing Dome, but it’s an awfully fun tradition.
It all began four years ago, after the tragic bombings in the Madrid train station, March 11, 2004. Nathan had been in Madrid a few months prior to that day, and having been a New Yorker only blocks away from the twin towers on 9/11, Nate felt a strong emotional connection with those in Spain. He took it upon himself to reserve Westlake Park in Downtown Seattle for a memorial service on behalf of the victims of the bombing, and he invited his contact list to join him. (Nate has about 1500 names in his address book, so word got around pretty quickly.)
By the time the evening of March 19 rolled around, news crews had been alerted, print and t.v. reporters were on site, and the Canadian consulate of Spain had contacted Nate and asked to participate. Someone had created a PowerPoint presentation on their laptop, counting down the near-200 victims. In all, over 400 people joined together in Westlake Park to commemorate those who lost their lives due to terrorism in Madrid. Together we heard Madrid-natives speak of their fondness for their home-city; together we paid tribute to Spain; together we contemplated the awful effects of terrorism. We stood in the square, and in silence watched as the PowerPoint ticked down the 191 victims.
After that moving event, Nate and I were famished. The only place open and serving food near my house was the Wing Dome on Greenwood. We walked in, ordered some wings, some battered mushrooms, and some beer, and asked Wing Dome to turn on channel 5. We watched Nate on the 11 o’clock news and toasted to what would become an annual tradition.
–annual tradition except for the next year when we were in New York. Nate proposed in Central Park on a sunny, spring day, March 19, 2005.