From the Caribbean to Camping: 23 Years of Us -- Happy Anniversary, Carrie

Sometimes it’s hard to believe that Carrie and I have been married for 23 years. Yes, I know — I’m getting older. It feels like just yesterday we met on a cruise somewhere in the Caribbean. Somehow, our paths crossed 24 years ago, and that chance meeting brought us together. So many great memories stem from that cruise back in 2001. It’s one of those moments that feels both distant and fresh, like it just happened. I still vividly remember our first meeting.

Recently, I revisited the website we created to announce our wedding — and yes, it’s still available at https://www.haverty.net/projects/wedding. Back then, it was hosted at wedding.haverty.net, but the domain wasn't carried forward in new site design. The site still exists, and it’s a nostalgic trip to revisit it and read both my version and Carrie’s version of how we met. Note: some links on the site, such as guestbook and gallery, no longer work.

Like any couple, we’ve had our share of ups and downs. I choose to focus on the good times and look forward to many more ahead. We love to travel, attend sporting events (well, Carrie tolerates them), read, hike, watch shows, and — most recently — we’ve gotten into camping. Over the past four years, camping has become a shared joy, and I’m looking forward to the day we can get a travel trailer and explore the country together. Retirement is still about 12 years away, but I know those years will fly by before we know it.

Looking back at the wedding website I created, I can’t help but laugh. The design was simple — not fancy — but it got the point across. Some of the links, like the photo gallery and guestbook, no longer work, but the core details are still there. It makes me smile to see how basic web design was back then and how far things have come.

Reflecting on the past 23 years, I’m filled with gratitude. We’ve traveled more in recent years, and I’m excited for the adventures still to come. I think back to our first anniversary trip to Costa Rica, where our friend Javier was our tour guide. What an incredible experience! Since then, we’ve taken numerous cruises together and discovered a love for Virgin Cruise Lines. I can’t wait to take another cruise with Carrie.

There are so many reasons I’m thankful to be celebrating our 23rd wedding anniversary. As we move into our mid-to-late fifties, it’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed and how much life we’ve shared. I love Carrie deeply and wish her a very happy anniversary.

Here’s to many more years of love, laughter, and adventure.