The first 40 years of my life were spent roaming the world solo. The second half has just begun, and it is with the girl of my dreams. It has been said that good things come to those who wait, and I thank God the wait for true love is finally over.
I met my wife in Ukraine in 2010, got engaged in Cambodia in 2011, and sealed the deal on May 5 of 2012.
The first step was to return to Ukraine, in the dead of Winter, and to the village where my wife was born, to ask her father for permission to have his daughter’s hand in marriage.
Fortunately, he liked the idea. Plans for the engagement party were underway!
My mother and father joined me to see my wife’s homeland, and to meet her parents. We stayed in Kyiv for several days before taking the 14-hour train ride to Svalyava.
Here we enjoy the weather outside the Opera House.
The interior offered some unique photo opportunities.
We watched an engaging performance of Giselle!
Finally, to Svalyava for the engagement party! Svalyava is located in the Transcarpathia region of Western Ukraine, bordering Transylvania.
I got two for the price of one, adopting my wife’s daughter, Zhenya, as well.
I could fill pages with the wonderful food and drinks prepared by my wife’s mother, aunts, and the rest of her family. The festivities went on for days… Slava Ukrayini!
Because her family would be unable to attend our wedding in California, they recorded her father walking her down the aisle in a Ukrainian church, later to be played during our ceremony in the US.
Back home in America, I had one last night of bachelor freedom out with the boys in downtown San Diego!
We couldn’t have asked for a more beautiful wedding. We were married in the same church that my parents were happily married in over 40 years ago in Solana Beach.
At the last minute, my wife’s sister was able to fly in from Italy and become her maid of honor.
My supporting cast included my brother Torrey, as well as best friends Josh, Jeremy, Nic, and Tony.
Zhenya tries to figure out how she can possibly eat the whole thing herself!
The beach where I surfed as a youth…
The next day we were off on our honeymoon in Kauai!
My stunning bride enjoys the tropical environment.
The view down to Kalalau Valley is breathtaking:
2012 has been an exciting year! Becoming a homeowner, a husband, and a father all at once is a true blessing. I can’t begin to imagine what the next year will bring! And all at 40 years old! I must be a late bloomer!