Happy Anniversary!
April 13, 2015
Today is a joyous day for me for many reasons! Two years ago today, I married Ken Bertwell in Ogunquit, Maine with our dear friends Howard and Sherri as our witnesses. It was one of the most wonderful days of my life. We are lucky though as Kenny and I celebrate three anniversaries! The anniversary of the night we met on September 24, 1983 when our great friends Ed and John encouraged him to ask me to dance at Newport Station. And the anniversary of February 14, 2004 when we got married the first time in San Francisco thanks to the bravery of Gavin Newsom (that marriage was dissolved by the CA Supreme Court)!
It is also a joyous day because Kenny and I had the most wonderful visit yesterday. This was his second visit and he came up by himself for the first time. My brother Paul, my sister-in-law Nicole and my niece Danielle drove over from Santa Maria on Saturday night to take Kenny out to dinner (how cool is that?). The visit was completely different from the last one where both of us went into a deep funk afterwards. This time I just felt so close to him and we were able to really talk and connect in a way that we have not been able to do since before I arrived here. The reality is that we are both flawed individuals with a lot of baggage but we are fiercely loyal and deeply committed to each other. While this is not the journey I would choose to be on, I can’t describe how wonderful it is to have Mr. Ken on that journey with me. Also, for the first time yesterday, I had an overwhelming feeling that all of this was going to be OK. I knew this intellectually before but yesterday I really FELT it. And that is what stuck with me after Kenny left yesterday and I felt calm and joyful as I walked around the track on a beautiful spring day.
I also had a great visit with the fabulous Mureen Brown on Friday. She was supposed to be here at 10 and by 11 I was worried that something had happened to her as I had not yet been paged to visitation. I finally got the page at 11:15. In spite of all her planning, including advice from my Mom, she was sent away because her outfit was racy and too close to gray! So off to Kmart she went for a new outfit. Hilarious! Only Mur. Seriously, though, I really appreciated the conversation and the sharing. I have known Mur forever but I am finally getting to KNOW her. What a treat!
And yes, there is one more anniversary. Today marks three months that I have been here. Lots of people told me the first three months are the toughest. And while there have been some bumps in the road, overall it has been pretty good. I have many people to thank for that but I am also allowing myself today to feel a little proud for making it the first 90 days without a nervous breakdown!
Thanks again to all my friends who have joined me on this journey and join me in toasting this joyful day (I’ll be toasting with iced tea with fresh squeezed lemon)!
David Applegate
