The nice thing about emails and blogs is that other people remember stuff for me so I don’t have to. For example, today is my wedding anniversary. It’s been four years, although some days it seems longer…. Getting married was mostly remarkable because in the space of a few hours I turned my entire supply of food, guns and ammo into 50% of what they were…a years supply for one suddenly becomes a six-month supply for two, etc, etc.
Having never been married before, I heard that weddings were a nightmare, the bride turns into bridezilla, etc, etc. Well, I figured if I’m gonna be part of this, I should get to have some fun. So..we had some fairly unconventional stuff. First lets start off with the invites. This was the logo used on the invites:
The little wedding favors at the tables were also a bit different from your normal ones:
We encouraged the guests to come armed, and many did. Since there was a preponderance of firepower, it was a non-booze wedding. The mayor, who used to do stand-up comedy before getting elected, did the ceremony. And, never ones to miss an opportunity to stand around and eat free food, several of the girlfriend-now-wife’s co-workers showed up. Official wedding photographer Oleg Volk (yes, that Oleg Volk was our photographer. We just happen to know the right people) even pulled a couple of them into posing with the bride.
More gunplay ensued when one of our guests brought along his 1/3 scale Revolutionary War cannon and fired a salute outside the hall. (I don’t recall exactly, but I believe the facilities manager was a little surprised by our asking about if we could fire off a cannon on his grounds.)
Other highlights included me and the best man getting fitted for tuxes while wearing shoulder holsters (of course I was wore a gun at the wedding. Who wouldn’t?), cutting the cake with a 1917 Enfield bayonet, and the day-after-the-wedding trip to the shooting range with all the wedding guests. How many weddings have you been to that included a range day?
Did getting married do anything good or bad to the preparedness model? Well, as I said, everything gets reduced by 50%. Thats a tough one to deal with. But, on the other hand, she brings some unique and handy skills to the table. (Most notably, an ‘in’ with the local police…which can, and has, come in handy). Before we got married I made it pretty clear that I was into the preparedness thing and that I had no plans of changing that, and that she was welcome to participate, but that from time to time it might create some weirdness that she’s just going to have to put up with. What kind of weirdness? Ah, things like coming home and finding cases of MRE’s and freeze drieds stacked to the ceiling in the dining room and me excitedly saying “Hey, guess what UPS dropped off!”, observing the ‘First Rule Of Fight Club’ with her coworkers, discovering that grocery shopping trips can ger really interesting if something cool and long-term-storable is on sale, etc, etc. But she’s been quite good about that.
For those of you who arent married and are thinking about it, make sure to tell the girlfriend up front about your secret life as Burt Gummer. After you’re married, when she demands that you drop several hundred dollars on something useless like new curtains because ‘we already have a basement full of that junk of yours that you never use’, it’ll be too late to explain that this is how it’s going to be. Personally, I think that in my case I’m pretty benign…I don’t drink, I don’t smoke, I don’t buy expensive toys like trucks or jet skis or big screen televisions, I’m not crazy with money, I don’t have really weird friends who constantly come by, or have equally bizzare relatives always dropping in. From a relationship standpoint, pretty much my only quirk is the preparedness thing and, hey, what chick doesn’t like the idea of being well taken care of?
So, today we’ll head over to the wedding venue and take our annual anniversary picture there and then go out to dinner. Next year will be the five year anniversary so maybe we’ll have to do something special then.
Congratulations, to both of you. I’ve enjoyed reading both your blogs for a long time.
Your spouse is your ‘force multiplier’ if you’ve done your job in finding someone who really cares. I chose a girl who was a tom boy, and has it ever helped me with my life – not one to shirk work that might break a nail, if you know what I’m saying. 8^)
I’ve been married 16 years now (time flies!) and I can’t count the many times she has helped me out of a jam. I do whatever I can for her, she does the same for me and for the most part, we are pretty happy with our choice.
Congratulations on your time together, that does sound like an interesting wedding alright!
i can’t believe an ornery old guy like yourself got such a gorgeous wife – she is truly beautiful! she must like prepping if she is with you! bahahahahah!
congratulations to both of you! i hope that you have many more anniversaries together!
your friend,
kymber
(p.s.- your wife has a blog? can you send me the link? you know the email address)
Somewhere between a first date and planning to spend the rest of your lives together being open and candid about “your secret life as Burt Gummer” or anything else which involves significant amounts of time/ money/ energy and is important to you is essential. You need to know about her shoe shopping or visa account or travel expenses and she needs to know about your gun shopping, prep expenses, etc. That is part of having a mature adult discussion about what your life together will be like.
Wifey and I talked a lot prior to getting hitched. We both had a few things that were really important to us and some other stuff we felt strongly about. We figured out that we could both live with the other’s deal makers then compromised on the rest to mutual agreement.
As to the curtains thing I look at it differently. Like you said honestly survivalism has some hobby aspects, probably more than any of us are willing to admit. Why should I be able to get a new Glock but say the Mrs shouldn’t be able to get curtains? Shouldn’t a couple decide how to spend their extra money together, or at least both get something they want?
Have a good weekend
CONGRATS on four years together..Love the invites, Great idea. My wife and I will be ringing the bell for 16 years this sat.She is my partner and equal in everyway, except where she out does me!! SAT. will start out with homemade french toast, then a local gun show, then some range time and out for a great steak dinner. And to cap it all off.. I get to sleep with a HOT chick ![YES my wife] Keep up the good work.
That wedding sounded seriously awesome. From the sounds of it, she’s definitely a keeper. Happy 4 years to you both, and many more.
Lets see. 25 is silver, 50 is golden. I think 5 is plastic. Perhaps a new Glock? Worth a try at least.
Five is wood, actually. I was thinking maybe a new gun cabinet or a custom riflestock.
Congratulations! Like most of us, I suspect that you “over-married”.
I enjoy your blog and look forward to it daily.
Stay safe!
grasshoppa
Happy Anniversary and Best Wishes
We are going on 45 and you can do it. The key we think is communication and willingness to subvert your desires to your spouse, it is a mutual deal. Both have to sacrifice to the other.
With best wishes and affection
George and Kim
Four years, has it been that long
Have you people gotten around to getting that .50 cal yet?
Still working on it, although Im thinking it should b3 a .338 Lapua instead so I can ease the logistics issues of special primers, special presses, special shellholders, etc.
All of those arguments for the .338 are good and reasonable, but they are not good enough, for after all, compared to a .50, How sexy is the .338?
Happy anniversary buddy!
Of course my wife – ever being the smart ass, upon seeing the nice picture of us in front of “Mr. Tux” has to point out that in downtown Missoula a lot of people might presume we’re a nice young gay couple! Thanks honey… I love you too!
Your wedding was one for the ages! I loved being asked about the guns at your wedding… “Is this normal for Montana?” This ‘aint normal – it’s Jon and Kit!