Five years ago right now Kendall and I were on the
bimah of our synagogue, Beth Chayim Chadashim, tying the knot. I wrote about
our wedding four years ago today on our Paper Anniversary. Apparently Year 5 is
the Wooden Anniversary. Who makes these things up? But it works for me.
I think I talked back then about how Kendall’s
book brought us together. I met her at a wedding in 1989 after having just read
her wonderful book, I recognized her from the photo on the cover, and introduced
myself. True, it took more than 15 years for us to truly get together after
that but paper and wood have always played a significant role in our
relationship. We purchased our home because of the gorgeous hundred-year-old
woodwork and we worship all forms of old wooden antiques. One of our favorite
spots on earth and one of our biggest splurges was two nights at the Savoy
Hotel in London, a testament to the finest wood craftsmanship in the world.
Not long after our wedding we began our very long
journey through infertility. This culminated in the births of our sons last
month, way too early and cloaked in tragedy with the death of our son Oliver. Still, with
our beloved Charles wishing us a happy anniversary today, safely from his
incubator, his desats calming down and his oxygen levels improving, it seems
like the best anniversary gift ever. Beth Chayim Chadashim, the name of our
synagogue, means “House of New Life,” and I can’t think of a better description
of Charlie’s current home.
Every time I walk into the NICU, I touch this
sign and kiss my hand as if it were a holy mezuzah. (You should see the looks I
get from the medical staff!) One year on our anniversary Kendall and I
went to Vegas and saw Steve and Eydie in action. I know that dates us but we
don’t care—we love those two and knowing they donated their hard-earned money
to the very structure that is keeping our son alive, they are our
permanent heroes. So here’s to
you, Steve and Eydie! Kendall,
here is a video of Charlie from just a few minutes ago, wishing his mom the
happiest anniversary. We both love you!
(Forgive the tiny size of the above video. YouTube wouldn't let me post it with Steve & Eydie claiming copyright infringement so I had to load it a different way. A pox on YouTube—something tells me Mr. Lawrence and Miss Gorme wouldn't mind serenading Charlie and Kendall one little bit!)
Awww....he's getting his jazz feet ready, too!
Happy Anniversary, Kendall and Danny!
Posted by: Jane | May 30, 2009 at 12:18 PM
Mazel Tov on your wedding anniversary, may Charlie be dancing at your future anniversary parties!
Posted by: susie specter | May 30, 2009 at 12:40 PM
Thanks for letting us know about this happy occasion and allowing your fans and friends to wish you a wonderful day.
xoxo
Posted by: Elaine Soloway | May 30, 2009 at 02:17 PM
Happy anniversary, Danny and Kendall! I have great memories of your wedding.
I love the video and Steve and Eydie's accompaniment.
Love,
Julie
Posted by: Julie R. | May 30, 2009 at 03:48 PM
The tears are streaming down my face and my body is still racked by sobs from this post but still I can manage to correct one inaccurary—that's marriage, Baby! We didn't go to see Steve and Eydie on an anniversary—the fabulous Sands and its legendary showroom had long since been turned back into desert dust by the time we were married. We saw Steve and Eydie one Easter (is it coming back to you now?) when we had decided to be "just friends" though we did share a room at the Imperial Palace (surely it's coming back to you now!) but only because, to quote Mr. Lawrence, it was cheaper to sleep together! I think if I had to bet I would say it was Easter of 1992 as that might have been the only Easter that fell during our friendship attempt! Oh, Mr. Miller, we've been through thick and thin, all out and all in, and I truly wouldn't trade one horribly painful minute of it—or any of the deliriously happy ones either, like being on that bimah with
you. I can't believe it's already been five years. Baby, fifty is right around the corner, but the promised gold couldn't mean more to me than this year's wood, so polished is it by our tears and our desperate clinging to each other. I've never needed you more or loved you more. Happy anniversary.
Posted by: your wife | May 30, 2009 at 03:49 PM
Oh, of course, I stand corrected...except I'm willing to stake my life on the fact that it was the Desert Inn (another classic Vegas spot that had a date with the wrecker's ball) where we saw the wonderful Steve & Eydie (same bill with Don Rickles, no?), and not the Sands.
On our wooden anniversary, I will quote the ancient Chinese proverb, "Rotten wood cannot be carved." Or how about W.C. Fields' line, "The nation needs to return to the colonial way of life, when the wife was judged by the amount of wood she could split."
I love you!
Posted by: Danny | May 30, 2009 at 03:58 PM
Dear Danny and Kendall,
Happy Anniversary! I am farklempt from reading your posts. I was sorry to miss your wedding, but I'm happy to see at least 2 pictures from it. Couldn't get the video (or audio), though.
Charlie is looking like a regular little man now. His voice even sounds like Johnny Mercer's!
Love to all of you,
Cynthia
Posted by: Cynthia Reich | May 30, 2009 at 04:53 PM
Happy Anniversary. May your love be the strongest cement, the most tender glue. Looking at these pictures, I know that it is.
Posted by: Leightongirl | May 30, 2009 at 06:19 PM
Happy Anniversary. I found your blog via Roberta Lipp's blog via the Mad Men blog Basket of Kisses.
I am an autism Mom. My three girls have autism. But their births were easy and happy and joyous and wonderful. My heart goes out to you. And I'll pray for your little Charlie.
Kim
Posted by: Stagmom | May 30, 2009 at 06:24 PM
Dear Danny and Kendall,
Happy Anniversary!!! May you have many more happy and HEALTHY years together. You have made it this far, and if you can get through this, you can get through anything.
Danny, you know me and Jeff have been through the ringer and we have been together for 30 years!! And no one said it would last!!! I don't know how we did it. I'm typing from my hospital bed....again, OY!
Charlie looks better and better. He is a handsome little man. Take care!
Posted by: Arlene | May 30, 2009 at 08:22 PM
Kendall and Danny - Happy, Happy Anniversary and "Sto Lat" (a hundred years) to you both!!
LAP
Posted by: Danita Cherney | May 30, 2009 at 10:22 PM
Happy Anniversary, and I'm so glad little Charlie is doing well! I'm sure you know this, but in case you don't, Steve and Eydie are both "members of the tribe." I was really surprised to find out a few years ago that Steve was born Sidney Leibowitz in Brooklyn, and Eydie was born Edith Gormenzano in the Bronx, the daughter of Sephardic Jews (father from Sicily and mother from Turkey- thank you Wikipedia!)
Posted by: Lori | May 30, 2009 at 10:29 PM
All the best as you begin another year of married life together with your son who looks to be growing healthier with each passing day!
Posted by: Pam G | May 31, 2009 at 05:20 AM
I wonder what Charlie is going to think of these videos 13 years from now? I'm sure he'll roll his eyes and won't be able to fathom how loved and wanted is he. But for now, these videos are to cute and It's so wonderful to watch Charlie grow and get deliciously chubby. Happy anniversary.
Posted by: Ana | May 31, 2009 at 11:26 AM
Happy Anniversary to you both! Charlie looks like he's getting bigger every day.
Every time I walk into the NICU, I touch this sign and kiss my hand as if it were a holy mezuzah.
I can't tell you what a kick my late husband would have gotten out of that idea. As far as he was concerned: Vegas, Catskills, Jerry Lewis, Steve & Eydie...all symbols as Jewish as a mezuzah right there and just as meaningful.
Posted by: Melinda | May 31, 2009 at 03:22 PM
Happy Anniversary, my dear friends. I miss you and love you both! All good thoughts being sent your way.
Posted by: Shari | May 31, 2009 at 07:24 PM
Happy Anniversary Danny and Kendall and love from the whole Jacobvitz family--Michael, Laurie, Adam and Sarah.
Mazeltov!
Posted by: Laurie | May 31, 2009 at 08:12 PM
Happy Anniversary Danny & Kendall!!! Little Charlie is looking beautiful and healthy.
Lotsa love, Jo
Posted by: josephine | May 31, 2009 at 09:13 PM
A very Happy Anniversary to you, dear Kendall & Danny....And many many more!
Posted by: OldOldLady Of The Hills | June 01, 2009 at 01:47 AM
Happy Anniversary, you two. I'm so glad you found each other.
Posted by: churlita | June 01, 2009 at 11:12 AM