When people are asked about the greatest days of their lives, the order usually has either the birth of their children or their wedding as the top spot.
I can agree with that.
In sort of a rushed sense, I got married on Star Wars Day, May 4th. The planning took less than a month. We had our small, private wedding in front of our immediate family at the historic Green County Courthouse, and we had a fantastic meal at Buggyworks afterward.
I had always envisioned my wedding to be a large celebration with hundreds of family and friends with whom I had shared amazing memories across my life, but when it came down to it, just having my family around was enough.
Part of the excitement of a shotgun wedding is finding ways to budget it. "Pick a day you'll remember" was easy, as I love "Star Wars" and will always respond with "May the 4th be with you," regardless of how cheesy it gets when someone asks me when my anniversary is. As for an outfit, I bargain-hunted a week before and somehow scraped up enough individual pieces to form a pretty good-looking black-tie suit. Or should I say, black bowtie suit. For our honeymoon, we took a day trip to Milwaukee Saturday to watch the Brewers knock off the Pirates on some late-game heroics and at the last minute, booked a hotel room at Potowotomi at a nearly 50 percent discount.
And that's it.
To be honest, I'm very happy with all of it. As the years go by and the older I get, the more I appreciate the little things, the simple bits of life and the company of family.
Is this what maturation looks like? Is this what it means to become older and wiser?
My goals as an adult have shrunk over the years, but with that they have become more sincere: Teach my children about the realities of life while still instilling optimism in all circumstances; be a good father and husband by always putting my family first; become more efficient in chores and work, to streamline productivity and make each more simplified; to enjoy the moment, all moments, as they are a gift from the universe; to appreciate the communities and people who helped me become who I am and give back in some way, little by little.
It's a different take from 15 years ago, and even five years ago. I like who I am today. Life has humbled me. The struggles of employment, death of loved ones and other mistakes and misfortunes have combined with the joys of new life, like the birth of my niece and finding a new family to share some love with (Courtney's son and family).
Life is exciting. Life is beautiful. Life is happy again from behind these eyes.
It doesn't hurt that the Brewers have a winning record.
- Adam Krebs is a reporter for the Monroe Times and has found the droid he was looking for. He can be reached at akrebs@themonroetimes.net.
I can agree with that.
In sort of a rushed sense, I got married on Star Wars Day, May 4th. The planning took less than a month. We had our small, private wedding in front of our immediate family at the historic Green County Courthouse, and we had a fantastic meal at Buggyworks afterward.
I had always envisioned my wedding to be a large celebration with hundreds of family and friends with whom I had shared amazing memories across my life, but when it came down to it, just having my family around was enough.
Part of the excitement of a shotgun wedding is finding ways to budget it. "Pick a day you'll remember" was easy, as I love "Star Wars" and will always respond with "May the 4th be with you," regardless of how cheesy it gets when someone asks me when my anniversary is. As for an outfit, I bargain-hunted a week before and somehow scraped up enough individual pieces to form a pretty good-looking black-tie suit. Or should I say, black bowtie suit. For our honeymoon, we took a day trip to Milwaukee Saturday to watch the Brewers knock off the Pirates on some late-game heroics and at the last minute, booked a hotel room at Potowotomi at a nearly 50 percent discount.
And that's it.
To be honest, I'm very happy with all of it. As the years go by and the older I get, the more I appreciate the little things, the simple bits of life and the company of family.
Is this what maturation looks like? Is this what it means to become older and wiser?
My goals as an adult have shrunk over the years, but with that they have become more sincere: Teach my children about the realities of life while still instilling optimism in all circumstances; be a good father and husband by always putting my family first; become more efficient in chores and work, to streamline productivity and make each more simplified; to enjoy the moment, all moments, as they are a gift from the universe; to appreciate the communities and people who helped me become who I am and give back in some way, little by little.
It's a different take from 15 years ago, and even five years ago. I like who I am today. Life has humbled me. The struggles of employment, death of loved ones and other mistakes and misfortunes have combined with the joys of new life, like the birth of my niece and finding a new family to share some love with (Courtney's son and family).
Life is exciting. Life is beautiful. Life is happy again from behind these eyes.
It doesn't hurt that the Brewers have a winning record.
- Adam Krebs is a reporter for the Monroe Times and has found the droid he was looking for. He can be reached at akrebs@themonroetimes.net.
