About two weeks ago, Alexei and I were putzing around the house and decided to go exploring inside the big toombochka (Russian for dresser) in the living room. He found some nice vases to clink together; I found the guest book from my wedding.

It was the first time I’d more than glanced at the guest book, and I must say I was pretty impressed. Just the simple gesture of scrawling one’s John Hancock is actually a gift in and of itself. So, without incriminating anybody too directly, I thought I’d share a few choice entries from our guest book. Nobody’s name will appear, but the handwriting is authentic.

1- Happyness	2- Not for me
3- Half measures	4- Cool
5- Go girl	6- Very Happy
7- Love Troy	8- Best life; da
9- Bravo	10- Blessings
11- Affectionately	12- Russian: Be happy
13- Russian: Newlyweds	14- Russian: Kiss
15- Proposal

As I was flipping through the pages, I found myself wanting it not to end. But end it did. And from that beginning’s end sprang the last two years of marital bliss. Happy Anniversary, us!