Rick Stiebel/Columnist

The bride and I officially tied the noose 25 years ago yesterday on Bowen Island on the deck of her friendB次元官网网址檚 house which, fittingly, was still under construction. A small gathering of family and friends witnessed the event, those from the Island still muttering about having to attend a wedding that required two ferry trips each way.

While the quarter century mark is a notable milestone for many, Joan and I are lightweights compared to friends Peter and Linda, who share their B次元官网网址渦nofficialB次元官网网址� 50th anniversary with Woodstock. I wound up crashing their ceremony just long enough to drop a guest off on the way back from that legendary festival. My three days of peace and love was short-circuited by a lack of food, cash and shelter and the ability to find George and his Volkswagen van, which, according to our original plans, had enough bare necessities for all of us. The reason an B次元官网网址渦nofficialB次元官网网址� caveat is noted is because Peter and Linda had legally tied the knot months before Woodstock in another small town in New York State. If you knew Peter then, you understand why it took LindaB次元官网网址檚 parents some time to warm to welcoming him into their family, thus the need for wedding waltzes on both sides of the border. George, best friend and best man when Joan and I exchanged vows, bore witness to Peter and LindaB次元官网网址檚 American union as well.

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Meanwhile, back at the Rickter ranch, every yesterday and tomorrow with the bride is a testament to her infinite powers of persuasion, patience, perseverance, and problem-child-solving skills. After my first four flights into co-habitation failed in flames, it became painfully obvious the problem was me. Despite a long list of shortcomings B次元官网网址� she still refers to me as a work in progress B次元官网网址� Joan somehow keeps me on course and on a steady ascent.

So 25 years later, IB次元官网网址檇 like to share 25 seconds that defines the formula for the glue thatB次元官网网址檚 kept us stuck on each other.

We set off one recent Saturday to purchase a toaster oven because the old one has served its last slice. The bride had completed her mandatory thorough research and narrowed it down to three choices. In a rare stroke of genius, however, I suggested we start with Superstore instead because of the rewards points weB次元官网网址檝e accumulated. The lure of purchasing a free appliance worked its magic and we headed off for my Serious Coffee Africano to go, a must for any trip into Langford.

We wound up behind an Abell Pest Control van, which prompted the bride to say she wouldnB次元官网网址檛 want to be a fly on the wall in that vehicle. Before I could respond, Joan quiplashed that the driver must be bugged about something because he appeared to be getting antsy. B次元官网网址淚 hope he behaves and doesnB次元官网网址檛 fly off the handle,B次元官网网址� she added in less time than it takes to shift gears. When she noted it was actually a woman driving the van, I finally broke my silence with B次元官网网址淚 knew it was a fleamale.B次元官网网址�

That 25 or so seconds of laughter shared in the parking lot 25 days ago explain better than I can why IB次元官网网址檓 looking forward to another 25 years.

Rick Stiebel is a semi-retired local journalist.

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