Does it feel different? Do you feel different? I introduced myself to my students yesterday as if I was a new teacher. They wanted to know if I felt different now that I’m married. My first response was to say, no, we are still just us. But I do feel different, although I’m not sure I can explain it.

As I ran this morning, I was thinking that is my third day on the planet as this new person, Mrs. Sally Gates. I’m only three days old! Yes, we’ve loved each other for a long time and we’ve built this life together, but on Saturday, we committed our lives and love to each other, became one. It doesn’t necessarily change who and what we are, but it means we have promised to stay and work it through, we have made a decision, an intention, to love each other and forsake all others. That is a big deal and it means making choices each and every day to put another’s needs before my own and vice-versa.

So, yes, I am different from what I was three days ago, and I like that. I know the arms that surround me and the soft voice in my ear will always be there. I know that we are never alone, but now I KNOW that we are never alone.