The first time I met Robert he was one of my college professors. We never started a relationship, but bonded and became friends. We continued our friendship while I was working on my thesis, and he was always a sure voice of reason and compassion whenever I needed it. Sadly, after I got my Masters my grant was discontinued, and I couldn't continue school or continue living on campus. Life went downhill from there, and the next 4 years were extremely difficult for me. I was homeless the majority of it, and ended up in a homeless shelter. I was put in a program that helped me find a job and an apartment. My photo was published in the paper to accompany a story about the homeless shelter, which Robert saw. He contacted me and we reconnected. Eventually we delicately started a relationship, and over the next 9 months we'd forged a solid partnership. He knew all about my past, so he understood and respected me when I told him I wanted to remain celibate, and he never pressured me.
Earlier this month his favorite aunt died and left him her house in Big Sur. He decided to move there and got a job nearby, and he told me that I was the love of his life and he wanted me to come with him to share our lives together, and asked me to marry him. We agreed that we wanted to be married before we officially moved into the house together, but he wanted to be married in California, because as a child he always wanted to get married overlooking the Golden Coast, because he always had positive memories of his aunt's place. So we got all the legal preparations to move and get married sorted out, he took a UHaul down with all the big stuff and got some legal things settled down there while I finished getting things sorted at work and with my apartment.
On Friday we got up early, packed the remaining stuff in the car, and hit the road (from Seattle). We drove to Portland and took a break there, then drove more taking occasional breaks for bathroom and food. All in all we drove 13 hours, and arrived in San Francisco tired. We spent the night in a hotel by Fisherman's Wharf (a very chaste night). Yesterday morning we spent the morning in Pier 39, taking photos and exploring, and left around noon. Another 4 hours down the absolutely stunning California coast, and we got to Big Sur. We changed into our wedding clothes in Monterey and picked up our wedding cake and dinner on the way over. Once we reached Big Sur I felt like I was going to have a heart attack I was so excited. Every turnout I saw I nearly jumped.
We reached the vista point turnout on the side of the highway, where our officiant and his wife was waiting for us. It's a big turnout where they have all the mailboxes, and it overlooks the ocean off the craggy coast. It's mind-blowingly beautiful (you can search 61419 Cabrillo Hwy on google maps if you want to see- don't worry, those cars weren't there). The officiant was sweet, and we did a very short ceremony. He said a few words, then we exchanged vows and rings, kissed, signed the marriage license, and then drove up to our new home. It's unbelievably stunning with a jawdropping cliffside view. It's easily the most expensive house I've ever been inside. We ate our dinner, had some cake, and danced to Glenn Miller, then spent a very, very wonderful night together.
I woke up this morning wearing a wedding ring. My husband made breakfast for me and we spent the day in our new home. I'm a wife to a man I love. How crazy is that? I can't remember ever being this happy. This truly is the first day of the rest of my life.
