Without the First, the Others Could Not Possibly Be

Tonight I'm on a business trip sleeping over in the fair Emerald City (Seattle). Victoria and I once lived here. In fact, we were married here. Which brings me to my post theme this time.

So happens that there's some kind of convention in Seattle this week, so I couldn't stay in my usual hotel when I spend the night here. It's rare that I have to be away from the home for an entire evening because I work very hard to keep most of my business excursions limited to one day. It makes for a long day, mind you, especially when I wake up at 3:30 a.m. to catch the first flight out and then catch the late afternoon flight home so I can eat dinner with my family. But it's worth it to me to be exhausted at the end of a long day, scurrying to get home, because I'd much rather be with my loved ones than more alert and relaxed in a lousy hotel room, no matter how nice it is. Since I didn't have many options, I decided to stay in the hotel where Victoria and I stayed on our first Honeymoon night together. I figured it would be nostalgic and give me an opportunity to reflect. Turns our my "figuring" was spot on as I sit here looking out through my hotel room window at what perfectly paints the City's nickname. Jewels are shining everywhere, but my most treasured jewel is not here with me tonight.

I'll never forget that day and that night some twenty-eight years ago. It was perfect in every sense. The weather (pristine during an usually dreary season), the chapel, the pastor, the family, the guests, the flowers, the music, the attire, the festivities, the food, the settings... all were perfect, absolutely perfect. But what was more perfect than all of that was Victoria. She was stunning. She quite literally took my breath away. I cried when I saw her coming down the aisle - I couldn't help myself. Her presence and class were above anything I'd ever seen in my whole life. And I couldn't wait to be with her. Our vows were so powerful, it was if they were from God Himself. I'm loving thinking about that day right now. Of course I only wish Victoria were here with me.

The outer shell of the hotel hasn't changed at all, but the interior's been remodeled. The rooms are a little more modern, but when I walked into the lobby this afternoon I immediately recognized the reception desk and remembered standing there with Victoria in her wedding apparel looking as remarkable as she ever could. People stared and wished us such wonderful blessings. We went to the room, changed clothes and went out to dinner that night. In fact, it was on top of the very hotel I'm staying in tonight. We talked that evening about every detail of our day. We both admitted that our cheeks were tired from smiling so much - those muscles had never been wound so tightly.

We could never have dreamed or crafted the life we lived to this point following what could never be repeated. God, our God, knew all along, and continues to unfold day after day after day a wedding that gets played out each day the new sun rises. Not all are as dreamy as that first, but without the first the others could not possibly be. I'm intro and retro-spective tonight, especially without Victoria, but I'm glad God brought me to this place, at least this one more time. I should sleep well tonight.

I'm missing you, Vicki Anne,