Tomorrow I will have been married to Satu for one year. Here is what I have learned about marriage in the first year.
1. It is not the same as being a long time companion, dating or being a significant other. It is much better to have a wife. When you have a wife, you don't have to explain to anyone that it is serious. People respect marriage in a way that they wouldn't respect any other commitment.
2. I love being married! I love having a wedding ring and the idea that what I have with Satu is meant to last forever. I love being her person. She is my best friend and she is the only person who knows me as well as my own sister.
3. When you are married and you get in trouble for something, you can just blame the other person for marrying you in the first place. For example " I'm sorry I threw out the fresh coffee, but you knew that I wasn't observant when you married me, so you don't get to be mad now."
4. Some days it doesn't feel any different than before we were married, but then I remember her holding my hot, shaking hands when we said our vows, and I know that I will never be the same.
5. When you are married, you get to imagine growing old together and not have parallel thoughts about what would happen if you were alone. You can plan to take care of each in a way that is impossible to do without marriage.
6. Anniversaries are better when they are for the day that you married instead of a first date or a first kiss. Who knows the exact date that you fall in love with someone? It is a process that you get caught up in and then suddenly realize that you are in love. I will always know the day that my beautiful wife told me that she would love me in sickness and in health, for better or worse.
All I have to do is be me and continue to pour all of my love and imagination and happiness into this life that we are building. I think that loving Satu is my real goal in life. I go to work with a happy heart and do well because I am in love. I notice things in the world because I want to see them with her. The first thing I think of when I hear something funny is if she would laugh too.
Satu is my person. She will be my person as long as we are both us and I cant think of a more important thing in the world.
