August 3, 2014

Why we traveled to Colorado because there was something in particular we liked about the law there.

No, not the marijuana. It was 5 years ago, remember?
August 3, 2009 — We're here in Colorado not just for the scenery, but for the law.

What is the law we love so much — this beautiful example of the benefits of federalism? I will tell you soon!
In the comments, Freeman Hunt made the marijuana guess:
One of you is sick, and you think marijuana will help?
That was back before Colorado extended its marijuana tolerance beyond those seeking relief from medical afflictions and on to people in search of a bit of fun and relaxation, but it was not why we came to Colorado. And in fact the first commenter, reader_iam, had already guessed it: "Are you wanting to solemnize your own marriage, as opposed to having an officiant required?" LarsPorsena was right there with the "Colorado legal stuff for AA":
"....Solemnizing a Marriage: Couples themselves may solemnize their own marriage (perform one's own marriage ceremony). According to Colorado Revised Statute 14-2-109, a marriage may be solemnized by a judge of a court; by a court magistrate; by a retired judge of the court; by a public official whose powers include solemnization of marriages; by Indian tribe officials; by clergy; by the parties to the marriage. If you wish to solemnize your own marriage, you will be responsible for acquiring, completing and returning the license to marry to the appropriate county Office of the Clerk and Recorder...."
From the comments, I said:
Commenting from a mountaintop: we are still sitting on the rock where we exchanged rings, and now we are married.
That comment became the title of the next post, which you can read here. And here are the details of the smallest possible wedding on the rock in Colorado, which looked like this:

DSC_0032

The smallest possible wedding took place on a small rock 5 years ago, and here we all still, alive in the beautiful world, on the metaphorical rock of marriage...

DSC04915

41 comments:

Bob said...

Happy Anniversary, you two!

MathMom said...

Happy Anniversary! We're coming up on 30...all you have to do is live long enough! :o)

Anonymous said...

Terrible Reading Comprehension Guy says:

Althouse states "The smallest possible wedding took place on a small rock 5 years ago" yet she and Meade appear to be of average height -- or at least not abnormally small. Would not a wedding on that same rock between two very small people be, by definition, a smaller wedding? Just because the Professor didn't personally witness it does not mean it couldn't happen. The world is bigger than you, Althouse, and part of its being bigger is that it is full of smaller people: have some awareness to their plight, and do not take their small victories as yours.

Anonymous said...

Terrible Reading Comprehension Guy says:

Althouse states "The smallest possible wedding took place on a small rock 5 years ago, and here we all still, alive in the beautiful world, on the metaphorical rock of marriage... "

"Here we all still?" Is Althouse implying that she and Meade are "all" -- and if they are "all" then everyone is else is nothing? The Freudian Slip reveals the Truth of the Professor's world: we are not even small people, we are mollusks at best. Open your eyes Professor to something other than a metaphorical rock.

Irene said...

Lovely!

Meade said...

5 blissful years. Where has the time gone?

Anonymous said...

Terrible Reading Comprehension Guy says:

And Freeman Hunt: "One of you is sick, and you think marijuana will help?"

How quick Freeman is to jump to the topic of drugs! Freeman Hunt and Drugs, Drugs and Freeman Hunt: what else has she been hiding behind her veneer of rational common-sense? For all we know Freeman Hunt is in the Witness Relocation Program for who-knows-what, and the Althouse blog is the only place she can be herself without hassles from the authorities - yet. People: let us keep Freeman's Secret. Free Freeman Hunt! No Freeman, No Peace! We can wear appropriate shirts.

campy said...

Happy Anniversary!

Roger von Oech said...

Congrats. Meade's outlook on life (and politics) has had a beneficial impact on you. I'm glad you listen to him (sometimes). :-)

mezzrow said...

Time flies when you're having fun!

All the best to you both. Happy "Ann"iversary!

Anonymous said...

Terrible Reading Comprehension Guy says:

Also note that in the photograph of Meade and Althouse's ceremony there are only two white people in the picture -- there is not a single black person to be seen. Are there no black people in Colorado, or were they all forced to stay at the bottom of the mountain? Is the 'bottom of the mountain' a metaphor for the bottom of society? Is the fisheye lens a subtle way for Althouse and Meade to say: 'look ALL around, there are no black people anywhere near our ceremony'? I thought Althouse and Meade had greater sensitivity than that.

Anonymous said...

Terrible Reading Comprehension Guy says:

And since Althouse brought up black people: was there wedding the "smallest possible" or the "whitest possible"? Professor: sometimes the unsaid speaks so loudly.

Anonymous said...

Terrible Reading Comprehension Guy says:

Colorado: 1908: Miscegenation [Statute] Marriage between Negroes and mulattoes, and whites prohibited. Penalties: Punishable by imprisonment from three months to two years, or a fine of between $50 to $500. Performing a marriage ceremony punishable by a fine of $50 to $500, or three months to two years' imprisonment, or both.

Care to rethink "because there was something in particular we liked about the law there," Professor? Or was that long enough ago?

Ann Althouse said...

"Would not a wedding on that same rock between two very small people be, by definition, a smaller wedding?…"

Maybe right when we had our small wedding, there was an entire Whoville on that rock, with a hundred guests crying over an itsy bride and groom.

Was that a smaller wedding?

FleetUSA said...

So nice. Congratulations

Paddy O said...

Happy Anniversary!

The Crack Emcee said...

Happy Anniversary, Y'all - and, yeah, I remember why you went there (I'll leave it for someone else to guess).

I also remember I was against it but - events having caught up with us - you were right and I was wrong.

"My Bad" and I'm sorry - you're a beautiful couple.

For two pale faces*, that is.

(*Almost forgot I was writing for "mixed company,"…)

Meade said...

Thanks everyone.

(And thanks, Crack, for the reparations.)

Meade said...

Year Traditional (U.S.) Suggested modern gift list created by librarians at Chicago Public Library:

1st Paper
2nd Cotton
3rd Leather
4th Linen
5th Wood


Wow! Cool! Thanks!

Scott said...

A very happy anniversary to you both!

Scott said...

A very happy anniversary to you both!

Freeman Hunt said...

Happy anniversary! I liked my other guesses better.

Herb said...

Better that your wedding was conducted on a rock than that your marriage is on the rocks...

Happy anniversary and may your marriage and lives stand solid on the rock of love.

Cheryl said...

Happy anniversary! I absolutely love when you blog about your courtship and wedding. I wish you both many, many more happy years together. Thank you for sharing a little of yourselves here.

Mark said...

Happy anniversary to you both! Your happiness is so nice to see!

Melissa Clouthier said...

You're an inspiration. Congratulations and best wishes for many, many more!

Leslie Graves said...

Happy Anniversary!

Anonymous said...

Thanks for sharing your lives so publically. Your marriage was one the highlights of 2009 for me. My wife had a stroke at age 53 that almost took her life that year, and there were two deaths in my circle of college friends. I was encouraged that sickness and death was not the only thing happening in the world!

Tyrone Slothrop said...

Good for you, Meadhouse! Happy anniversary, and many more.

caplight45 said...

Happy anniversary and many blessings to you both. That is my favorite picture of you and Meade and it brings back a lot of memories of some wonderful times here at Althouse Blog.

Anonymous said...

I posted a few comments that didn't make it through. Deleted or lost? If deleted just answer 'grapefruit' and delete this.

Limited Blogger said...

Best wishes to the two of you. You certainly began on a marvelous foundation. Happy anniversary.

Curious -- is the picture of you and Meade (M is at computer) a "selfie" (i.e., no third party took it) or instead, did a person -- your son, for instance-- take that picture?

Am theorizing that people in "selfies" have a different look in their eyes -- a different kind of engagement that I can't articulate -- than people being snapped by another person who is not in the picture. A "selfie" pic just has a different feel. But I can't say why, nor why I care.

My bet is your pic with Meade is a "selfie." Yes?

The Elder said...

It's always easy to remember your anniversary -- Frankie is three today!

phantommut said...

Wonderful story. Congratulations!

Ann Althouse said...

Yes, it is a selfie, done old-style, with a timer on the camera. That's why Meade is in a set position, and I came around to fit in the frame based on where he was.

rcommal said...

A distant bell.

Limited Blogger said...

Aha. My theory is proving to be correct. And the one you just posted of Meade is one that you took. See the difference? Once you look for it, you can spot it almost every time. It's in the eyes. But why?

This summer at the beach, two nice 'tween girls met my son and later wanted a picture with him to take home. They started to do a "selfie" and I instinctively rushed in to take the picture for them, instead ... He thinks I'm nuts for even thinking about it.

rcommal said...

Ah, reader_iam. What a model for perspicacity gone sour. I remember. I know.

rcommal said...

Internet Ronin is there in that old thread, wishing you well also. Tempus Fugit

I miss him, so much (RIP).

Randy said...

Congratulations and best wishes!

8/3/09, 6:18 PM


#bittersweet

Herb said...

+1 Happy Anniversary

Bru said...

Happy anniversary! My wife and I married ourselves in Tellluride under similar circumstances. When we picked up the license, the county recorder said, "well, legally, you can just sign the papers here, but there are too many beautiful places around here to just sign the papers in a court house. So I make everyone leave for at least a half hour and come back with the signed papers." She then listed off about 10 local spots that she thought were ideal for a marriage. We loved that it was so simple and straight forward.