First week of July, 2006: Dave and I had been dating for four months and were on a cross-country road trip to drive my sister’s friend’s car from Philadelphia to Colorado (yay free trip!)
We spent a day seeing the sights of the city of brotherly love, and took a gander at the Declaration of Independence. For some reason (I’m sure it was Dave’s idea:) we decided to try to memorize some of it…so we spent the greater part of the day quizzing each other on the first few lines…
“When, in the course of human events, it becomes necessary for one people to dissolve the political bands which have connected them with another, and to assume among the powers of the earth, the separate and equal station to which the laws of nature and of nature’s God entitle them, a decent respect to the opinions of mankind requires that they should declare the causes which impel them to the separation.”
It is appropriate, and only recognizable in hindsight, that along the drive home following our visit to Independence Hall, that Dave and I decided that we wanted to in effect “assume a separate and equal station” together…or in other words, get hitched and begin our own family.
We arrived home in Salt Lake with just enough time to pull into Sugarhouse Park and watch the fireworks on the Fourth of July. I remember snuggling into Dave’s chest, oozing with excitement and anticipation of our upcoming (and still totally unofficial) engagement. There was nothing I wanted more than to spend my life making him happy. The next day, July fifth, I sat on Dave’s lap in my bedroom in my parent’s house and called the Salt Lake Temple to make an appointment for our sealing ceremony. One long month later, on August fifth, Dave proposed, making our engagement “official” and wedding plans began (okay, okay, I had been planning all along…). Two short months later, on October fifth, we were married and began our life of independence.
Yesterday, as we wound down after putting the munchkins to sleep, we reflected on our little family of almost five years.
Dave mentioned how he feels like Milo is in a stage of struggling with his independence as a toddler. Indeed I hear his two-year-old “declarations of independence” on a regular basis: “No mama, Mi-o”, “Stop mom, Mi-o”, “Mi-o, Mi-o, Mi-o” He is very self aware, and sure that he can accomplish any task by himself.
Paradoxically, Eliot is completely and totally dependent. Mostly on me, for food:) It is a big responsibility to recognize and respond to the needs of each in the way that will best serve them. Being a parent is a big job!
On this Independence Day, I am celebrating my little family as a powerful, living unit with influence far beyond it’s members. I celebrate our freedom to choose to love and uplift each other, and to support and protect each other.
Five years ago, with fireworks in our eyes, Dave and I left our homes and families and set out on this path together, and I am so happy to still be blazing along by his side.
Happy Independence Day.
