I have always loved St. Patrick's Day! Is it because I've got a teeny bit of Irish blood in my lineage? Is it because I'm a sucker for Irish accents? Or maybe it's because I'm in love with pictures of lush green Irish hills, dream of visiting Ireland one day, love the color green and all things shamrock, and think celtic knotwork is awe-inspiring. Is it because I find tales of leprechauns magical and the notion of a pot of gold at the end of a rainbow simply charming? I'm sure it has something to do with all of the above, actually.

I don't think I paid too much attention to the holiday until 6th grade. I decided that year, for the first time, to go all out. I wore as much green as I could, even buying a new green shirt especially for the occasion. I wore a green shirt, green pants, green socks, and little shamrock stickers on my forehead and cheeks. I was into it! My best friend, who thought I was a big freak, didn't wear any green at all, and consequently went home with a pretty badly bruised arm. Who knew eleven-year-olds would pinch so hard?

I had so much fun wearing all that green (one of my favorite colors) and exchanging gleeful "Happy St. Patrick's Day!" greetings with my friends that I decided to adopt it as "my" holiday, to be celebrated with enthusiasm every year! And I have! I love St. Patrick's Day! It's always a fun day! I even have a really cute picture of Joe and I in each other's arms at our favorite rock'n'roll sushi bar, taken on St. Patrick's Day 2000. That was a really fun night!

So last year, while Joe and I were planning our wedding, trying to figure out a day that would work for both families, it came down to Christmas break, or Spring break (many family members are in graduate programs). When we looked at specific dates, the weekend of March 16-17 was the best for everyone. I was so excited! I picked St. Patrick's Day! Joe wore a green vest and tie with his tux, and I just hung onto my bouquet, which had plenty of green in it. We had such a great time in Vegas. It was a wonderful vacation, and a wonderful wedding. It was perfect, in fact, and I only wish we could relive all those moments all over again!

And today is our one year wedding anniversary!

In some ways, it makes sense that it was a year ago, because really, a lot has happened since then. At the same time it seems like it wasn't long ago at all! I remember so many of the details so clearly. And I feel like I just saw all my friends, that I was just wearing my beautiful dress, that I was just standing up there, in the front of the chapel, saying my vows as tears of happiness ran down my cheeks. How could a year have passed already?

On our first dating anniversary, Joe and I went on a Photo Tour of the San Diego Wild Animal Park. We hopped in the back of the truck and were able to get really close to all the animals and take amazing pictures! It was so fun!

I thought it would be cool to celebrate our first wedding anniversary among wildlife, too. So I suggested we go to the zoo. Unfortunately, heavy rainstorms were supposed to roll in. So we planned on going to the zoo next Saturday instead, providing the weather and other circumstances cooperate.

The weekend was a relatively lazy one, just the way we like it! We did go out and get each other anniversary presents, though. It was so funny, because we weren't sure what to get the other person. Then Joe said, "Maybe we should just get Tivo!"

"Oh my god, yeah!" I said. It was perfect! For months, every time we've missed something on t.v., we said, "If we had TiVo, we could rewind right now and see..." or "If we had TiVo, we could tape it!" And many times in our home, there were just sighs from one or the other of us, followed by soft mutterings of, "I wish we had TiVo..."

So on Saturday, Joe and I went out and bought TiVo for ourselves! A gift we purchased together, a gift we'll both use often and enjoy... What better gift for an anniversary??

Today, while Joe was at work, I went out and ran some errands. And then I did a little extra shopping, just because! It's so great being out and about on St. Patrick's Day. You can pretty much see who is and isn't celebrating the holiday, simply by whether they're wearing green or not. And I can't help smiling whenever I see people wearing green, knowing we all chose to do so on the same day, just to partake in St. Patrick's Day holiday goodness! And with every shade of green, and every shamrock I see, I think, "Yay, it's my anniversary!" And I smile.

So I went about my day, smiling and shopping -- a very nice combination, if you ask me. I bought a really cute lime green, dark green, and white striped shirt from American Eagle. It makes me feel cute, too! And then I bought something I'd been needing for quite some time -- a wedding photo album! I found the perfect one at Hallmark, and I really like it!

After I came home (and changed into my lovely brand new shirt), Joe called me to let me know he was on his way home. We decided what restaurant we'd like to go to, and at the end of the conversation, he said, "Okay, baby! I love you! See you soon!" And I got ready to go out, feeling more in love with him than ever.

We ate at a steakhouse, and shared the steak dinner for two. The food was amazing! We talked and laughed and had a wonderful time together. It was great! We were so stuffed, we had to take our slice of cheesecake to go. It wasn't long before we ate it, once we were home. We couldn't resist! And I must say, it was amazing!

I spent the remainder of the evening organizing wedding photos and putting them into the new album. It seemed like a very fitting activity for the day. I reflected on all the moments of the time we were in Vegas as I slid each picture into place. What a wonderful way to spend the evening!

Joe and I spent the rest of the night as we usually do -- hanging out and laughing at various crazy things we find online. It was great to feel so in the moment, and just feel grateful and blessed for all of the things I have in my life. For my home, my family, my job, my health, my beautiful wedding memories, my awesome pictures, the peace I have in my life... and my husband. My husband. It still sounds so magical. I guess because it is. And I hope our marriage will always carry the same kind of magic that it does right now, the kind that is found in rainbows, four leaf clovers, and love.

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

~~Meg