One year ago, almost to the minute, I was bouncing off the walls, stressed almost to my limits.  It was the day of our wedding reception.  The caterer had just called to tell us someone had poached our spot at Crown Point, and because of that we needed to find tables and chairs for about 80 people.  Spinner was off hunting down the cake.   Diego was probably being a pain – nothing unusual – he just gets that way when he thinks he’s being ignored or abandoned.

Everything worked out though, and it was a wonderful day.  Hands down one of the best days of my life.  The June wedding’s right up there too, and it’s hard to put one over the other.  Yes, I’m still proud to be a June Party B but always love a good party.

Small, intimate, peaceful ceremony to express our commitment versus large, public, and just plain FUN party to celebrate that commitment.  Tough call.

For years, assuming we’d never get “married”, we celebrated the anniversary of our first date.  Since then we’ve celebrated that and the anniversary of the June wedding.  We’re both remembering today, but there’s nothing special planned.  Two anniversaries per year is enough for any couple.

I don’t think this last year has been easy on anyone.  The fabulousness was so much that the H8ers felt they had to step in and try to end our marriage, and the most fabulous cake shop around was a victim of the recession.  But I’m definitely happy we’ve taken this route and appreciate everyone who came out a year ago to help us celebrate.  Now back to meeting Diego’s need for attention.

Sunday started nicely with some good surf in Encinitas, and a good breakfast burrito in a little dive on the coast highway.   It was  brought down a bit by the realization that Spinnner’s wedding ring was apparantly lost in the ocean during the session.  We then consoled ourselves over the loss with a relaxing drive home through the back county on Via de la Valle and the Del Dios Highway, admiring all the bright colors on the side of the road.  Just wanted to reach out the window and grab a handful.

Plants in north county are looking pretty dry after days of 100+ degree heat, bringing back lots of memories of Firestorm 07, but those cyclists looked plenty hydrated, and so pretty in the varying hues of lycra.   Mmmm, nap time until we meet some friends for pizza this afternoon.

Still on vacation in Pismo, making a quick post while Spinner forages for breakfast.  Diego’s getting spoiled rotten with the long, leashless, walks on the beach.  This morning’s was a special treat though.

About halfway down the beach we stumbled on (and Diego sniffed) a young couple enjoying a bottle of champagne with the sunrise.  Didn’t want to intrude to the point of asking what they were celebrating – settled for luring Diego away so they could get back to their moment.  Have to assume though they were there to help celebrate our anniversary.  Yep, our wedding was one year ago today, on the second day of California’s 2008 marriage equality window.  The marriage is still going strong despite the best efforts of the H8ers, and I love Randy even more today then I ever have.

As we plan for our first anniversary in Pismo Beach and San Luis Obispo, it’s been interesting reading all the marriage stuff in the news lately. Maine! New Hampshire, maybe! Of course, we’re still waiting for the big story: California’s ruling on the validity of Prop 8, if any.

But it is interesting seeing the fallout continue from the Prop 8 battle itself. At least one boycott seems to be working. Pain is being felt, and attitudes, at least publicly if not in some people’s black little hearts, are changing.  For me though I have to admit the thought of balancing donations ($125,000 to gay groups to balance his $125,000 promoting H8) isn’t the goal and isn’t enough.  The goal has to be to ensure that when the issue comes up again, and it will, not one dime of money spent at that hotel finds it’s way to the anti-equality groups.  Letting him finance both sides to get favorable publicity across the board would never be enough to get me to spend my money at his, or any of the similarly-situated businesses again.

Interesting reading the news from Des Moines and flashing back to the first day of legal same-sex marriage in California last June.  We were planning to get married on Day Two (which we did), but on Day One we spent some time scouting out the registrar’s office up in downtown San Luis Obispo.  

Two things were in mind: we didn’t want to get lost the next morning with our guests in tow, and we were just a tad curious about how the local wingnuts were going to react. We found the building easily, and instead of wingnuts we found the local branch of the Unitarian Universalists serving cake and handing out roses. We hadn’t been quite certain how our folk would be welcomed up there (most of the news accounts had focussed on the larger counties) and along with the wonderful staff at the San Luis Obispo county recorder’s office, their congregation’s marriage party was a pleasant surprise.  Glad to see they’re doing their thing for Iowans too.

I thought I was finally through with the wedding posts, but then found this in a comment elsewhere. In response to Leahpeah’s post on our wedding and reception, and her beautiful photo, Ozma wrote

I’m truly digging those shirts. Many have spoken out on the fact that gays and lesbians shall ensure that weddings simply become more and more fabulous and if nothing else, we need to agitate ’til the cows come home to make sure this happens in every state.

Lovin’ it, and thank you.

Spinner was kind enough last night to accompany me to the local camera store. He was a good husband, kept an eye on my plastic, and pulled me back to the car at just the point I started drooling over the shineys.

We did however, accomplish our mission there, which was to pick up some film (yes film) from our reception earlier this month. In addition to the beautiful work of our professional photographer, we also seeded the tables with those little disposable cameras to see what our guests would do.

Needless to say, our guests were a hoot, and we certainly appreciate their contributions to the memories of the day.

Also wanted to thank Leahpeah for a kind post and great photo of the day.