Tuesday, June 21, 2011

To quote our friend Spencer . . .

"Everybody's gettin' married."  :)  To wit:
  • Four of my college friends are getting married over the summer (two to each other!).
  • The best man at our wedding and his boyfriend got engaged in April.
  • One of the couples we stayed with in Scotland got engaged the weekend after we went home (also in April).
  • One of my dear college friends and his equally awesome girlfriend got engaged in May, which was followed (the same night) by a surprise engagement party.  So much fun!  
  • And one of my grad school friends got engaged to her boyfriend last week!
How lovely, all of it.  With my own anniversary coming up this weekend (I promise a longer post about our irregular first year of marriage), it's so nice to hear of dear friends also taking the plunge.  Turns out, marriage is a freaking HUGE thing and harder than it looks.  This year has taught me that, if anything.  But in the end, it's so very, very worth it and it makes me feel all fuzzy inside to think of beloved friends diving in themselves. 

Sunday, June 5, 2011

If two be one . . .

I posted this poem, by the first published female poet in America, a couple of weeks ago on my professional blog. One of the museums where I work is in a town where Anne lived and wrote, so we've got some things planned for the 400th anniversary of her birthday next year. Upon reflection, of course, it's a perfect piece for here, this marriage/wedding blog of mine, especially given Justin's current deployment. Enjoy!

A Letter to Her Husband, Absent upon Public Employment
by Anne Bradstreet
(1612-1672)

My head, my heart, mine eyes, my life, nay, more,
My joy, my magazine of earthly store,
If two be one, as surely thou and I,
How stayest thou there, whilst I at Ipswich lie?
So many steps, head from the heart to sever,
If but a neck, soon should we be together.
I like the Earth this season, mourn in black,
My Sun is gone so far in's zodiac,
Whom whilst I 'joyed, nor storms, nor frost I felt,
His warmth such frigid colds did cause to melt.
My chilled limbs now numbed lie forlorn;
Return; return, sweet Sol, from Capricorn;
In this dead time, alas, what can I more
Than view those fruits which through thy heat I bore?
Which sweet contentment yield me for a space,
True living pictures of their father's face.
O strange effect! now thou art southward gone,
I weary grow the tedious day so long;
But when thou northward to me shalt return,
I wish my Sun may never set, but burn
Within the Cancer of my glowing breast,
The welcome house of him my dearest guest.
Where ever, ever stay, and go not thence,
Till nature's sad decree shall call thee hence;
Flesh of thy flesh, bone of thy bone,
I here, thou there, yet but both one.

Thursday, June 2, 2011

Squeee!


Lots of excitement for me last week!  Our anniversary and the above photo was listed on A Practical Wedding, along with a number of other lovely couples who were or are getting married in June.  Go check it out!  :)