If ever there was a sun that shines on me,
If ever there was a dream come true,
If ever the truth existed,
It was you
–Martin Sexton*
In the autumn of 1993 the sun shone in Northern Italy as grapes were harvested, gently crushed and slowly allowed to ferment. Sunlight was captured in a bottle, while half a world away, I met a girl.
I was 30 years old, just back from Europe, and I was alone. I was not a religious man, but there were prayers. During those gray fall days, they went something like this: “Dear God, if I have to choose between having a career as an actor and finding the person I want to spend the rest of my life with, please let me find that person.”
Of course, I still expected both. But I had begun to sense that maybe all my dreams were not going to come true, and I wanted to make sure my priorities were clear, which was wise. Because, looking back, it was as if I had walked into the mountains without a map, dropped my compass in the river, lost all my food, and took every wrong turn. Until I met Amy. Beautiful, talented, funny and wise, she found me wandering in circles and, together, we found our way home.
Wine is about moments. Fleeting on their own, together they create an alchemy of weather, skill and time, evolving toward the moment the wine is tasted. There’s magic in all of this, but there’s a special magic in the sharing. Wine never tastes as good as it does with Amy. And tonight, when things settle down; when Hallie’s in her PJs, and Heath’s had his shower, in celebration of our marriage, twenty years ago today, we will open that bottle of wine, a 1993 Barolo, and unleash the sunlight of the autumn we first met.
And we’ll kiss, and I’ll realize, once again, just how lucky I am. And then I’ll say another, simpler prayer.
“Thank you.”
* You (My Mind Is Woo) by Martin Sexton
Playing in the City with Trains 
Happy Anniversary my friends! You wear your love and devotion everyday! xoxo Anne
Thanks Anne. As always, we need to get together.
Happy Anniversary to you and Amy. I remember so well you two love birds when all of us were so very young! Amy – as beautiful as ever! Derek – as handsome as ever! I think I had something to do with getting you two together – didn’t I? Seems hard to believe it was 23 years ago. Many, many more happy years. Love, Lucille
“Derek, can you give Amy a ride to the meeting in Schaumburg?” — I believe it went something like that. You are both smart and intuitive.. Thank you.
Congrats on the 20. The smiles still look the same. Lovely.