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We Close Our Eyes

We are in Santa Barbara. It is November, and Anne and I are here for our anniversary, walking back to our hotel after the first romantic dinner we've enjoyed in months.

Though it is Saturday night, this normally crowded street is nearly deserted, because it is pouring rain. A cold, relentless rain that soaks into my shoes and clings to my body. The cold cuts straight through me, numbing my hands and feet.

The few people who have chosen to brave the storm are huddled in doorways and under awnings. Anne and I share a too-small umbrella in a futile attempt to stay dry.

It has been a wonderful evening, ending a wonderful day. We haven't gotten to spend much time just enjoying each other's company, just being together for several weeks, and I am cherishing every rain-soaked moment.

The storm intensifies as we hurry back to our hotel, turning downspouts to waterfalls, and the street into a small stream. Normally, the urge to stomp in puddles is irresistible to me, but the numbness is creeping up my legs now, and I need little encouragement to leave the puddles alone.

After a few blocks, the cold and rain is too much for me, and I suggest that we stop, and hail a cab.

Anne stops, and looks at me, her blue eyes gleaming. She says they're green, but they're blue...I see them whenever my mind wanders, so I know.

She steps out of the small shelter our umbrella is providing, and stands unprotected in the rain.

"I want to walk in the rain!" She declares.

"But it's 40 degrees!" I remind her, shivering. A few passersby look at us as if we're having a fight, and I chuckle to myself. They couldn't be more wrong.

"I don't care," she tells me, her hair falling down and clinging to the sides of her face, her jacket darkening as it absorbs the storm. "Someday, I'm going to want to walk in the cold rain, and feel it on my face, and I'm not going to be able to. So I'm going to do it now."

She reaches out and touches my cheek, and pulls my face to her. She leans towards me, kisses my nose, and walks away, her face cast upwards, her palms turned up to receive the rain.

She stomps into a puddle, and turns around.

"C'mon, you weenie! Walk with me!"

She is so beautiful, so joyous. The storm threatens to draw a curtain of rain around her, obscuring her from my view. Though she is twenty feet from me, I can see her beaming and feel her joy. She positively loves this.

I watch her, happily standing in the rain. In this moment I know why I married her. I know why she is the other half of my heartbeat.

But it's 40 degrees. There's no way I'm giving up this umbrella.

I lean against the rain, and close the distance between us. When I draw near her, she reaches out and knocks the umbrella out of my hand.

As it falls to the ground, she takes me in her arms. She pulls me to her, and kisses me.

"I love you," she says, rain dripping off her nose onto my face.

She does love me. It's one thing to say it, and one thing to hear it, but it's another thing to feel it.

"I love you too," I reply.

We stand there in the rain for a moment, looking at each other. We are soaking wet, freezing cold, and desperately in love.

Comments

This is a lovely post... I'm really touched by it, mostly because I remember that kind of feeling. Thanks for sharing.

Wonderful

Wow.

All I can say is that I hope when I'm married, and I call my husband a weenie one minute and say "I love you" the next.

Beautiful. ^_^

Wil said Futile.. (you know as in "resistance is...") Ok.. I'll shutup now..

It's moments like that that make marriage great, you know?

for a second there It felt like you were writing about me and my wife...
sounds like you're as lucky as me wil...
and that is lucky indeed...
beautiful story, and (dare i say it) some of your best writing...

thanks wil

ty

What a refreshing post!

*smile*

*Gush*

Yeah. I remember that feeling.

What a gorgeous piece of writing. It so accurately describes that love I know with my boyfriend, the feeling I thought words could not describe. Nice to know that I was wrong.

peace,

-kg

That's beautiful. *^^*

one word: Beautiful

Big fat AAAAAAAAWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW. :)

First of all, there's no fucking way it was 40 degrees, unless this isn't l.a. Second, i've been in love, and (here's the big secret girls) guys know when their girl's looking good, and looking cute, but the testosterone negates almost all romance. Wils' gotta big time woody here. That's the real male perspective.
P.S. My gramma's gotta picture of covina with snow, taken in the fifties. Those days are long gone.

And now for my totally irrelevant, completely unrelated post:
IT'S ONLY 21 DAYS UNTIL CHRISTMAS! How cool is that! I'm sorry if I come across as one of those christmas freako' kind of people, but I am. Every year around this time, even though I'm 20 and should be 'growing up' (PLEASE! give me a break) christmas still is the best time ever!!!!!

And for the record, jumping around in the rain is probably the most fun thing you can do!

I hope one day to feel that kind of emotion for someone wonderful. Unfortunately it hasn't happened for me [yet]:(

Awww that was really lovely.

DAMMIT!

It's like four hours before I get to go home and hug and kiss my wife. DAMMIT! I hate work, and Wheaton for writing something so DAMN romantic and full of love.

* READ FOLLOWING LIKE YOU ARE WATCHING STAR TREK 2 and seeing Kirk screaming in the middle of the planet scene:*

WHEEEEAATTONNNN!!! WHEAAATTTONNN!!!

He just had to be good writer, didn't he.

Note to self: Squirrel away funds to purchase Wheaton book.

Leo, the crazed and waiting reader of good literature written by once actor, now writer/actor/web god.

Hey Wil, LOVE your Boingo reference in your title! Did anyone else get it? Oh, and great story too, Anne is a prize, don't mess it up! ;-)

*sigh*

Damn, you are one smooth bastard, Wil Wheaton. Great entry and beautifully written.

it doesn't get wonderfully mushier than this. thanks for sharing wil, and congrats on you and anne's anniversary. :)

Reminds me of the line in the song: "Now Maria has the sense to stay out in the rain..."

Who sez guys don't like romance? I certainly do, though I'm not exactly typical...plus I always seem to date people whose response to a single red rosebud is "What's that for?" Really irritating.

And he might have been exaggerating when he said it was 40 degrees. People do that. It's just part of how people talk.

I love this kinda stuff. I assume, Wil, that you edited out the part where you stopped shivering and fell down, and she carried you back to the hotel and called 911...just kidding!

Lovely post, Wil! It reminds me of when I met up with my future husband for a weekend in Philly and we walked together in the rain as well...a mildly uncomfortable situation but still wonderful and romantic.

Nice.

Although I'm starting to jones for your entertaining "Wil is coming, and is he pissed" posts these days. Sentiment is neat, though. ;)

In other news, if you (or anyone else who reads this) live near a Trader Joe's, you really should try some Wild Raspberry "Café Twists". Man these things are gooooooooood.

Right, then.

I'm jealous. :) I hope I'm as lucky as you two someday.

Clay

I lived the moment with you.

thx,

Lice

Awwww!

It's always nice to see happy people. There are enough of them in this world.

God, that is beautiful. When I was 17, I went running off through the rain into a park, leaving my exasperated boyfriend trying to catch up with me. There's something about rain that makes me giddy, I guess. We're 21, now, and he's asked me to spend my life with him. For some reason, this post makes me think of the two of us. I can see us in that scene, in the future.

Would anyone like some wine with their cheese?

Beautiful. Absolutely beautiful. Nothing more needs to be said.

Damn you. That was beautiful. ::sniffles::

I want my sweetie now, but he's in England. Wah!

Yay Santa Barbara....I'm an SB local trapped in Oxford University for the year....anyway. cool.

I agree with Johan up there (him being my hubby and all, we think alike), that was beautiful. I've definitely had moments like that before. :)

When you find her, you know right away!

Thanks for making me smile.

That was one of the most beautiful things I have eve read it seriously brought a tear to my eye. TYou just expressed something that most people feel but never know how to say. It just proves your gonna make it as a writer and in your marrage. My hats off to ya..welll I don't really wear a hat but if I did it would be..*smile* God bless.

I'm getting married in July... and my only prayer is that my husband and I remain as in love as you two are.

Happy anniversary, Wil and Anne!

Beautiful post. I love it when moments like that happen between my husband and me. Thanks for sharing, Wil.

40 degrees and raining in Santa Barbara?!? What Santa Barbara were YOU in? :)

Go Gauchos!

*SIGH*

Beautiful.

That was just beautiful, Wil.

Absolutely beautiful.

Athena

I've been reading your blog for about a week now, and I've wanted to post but didn't want to be too much of a groupie. I had QUITE the crush on you in your Wesley Crusher days. I honestly had trouble thinking of you as anything else until I was introduced to Wil Wheaton dot net. But ready your words, I've come to realize that you're a real person. Go figure. :)

And on that note, let me just say that this entry has to be one of the most romantic things I have ever read. I got goosebumps just reading it, moreso because I know it's a true story, this really happened between you and your wife and it's so gratifying and amazing to know that that kind of wonder and romance still exists in the world. Your words are so vivid, I can see the two of you in the rain, feel the rain soaking everything. Brilliant. Amazing. Awe inspiring. Especially because it's true.

Thank you for being you and for sharing yourself with the rest of us.

Okay:

*gush*

*sigh*

Awwwwww!!!

Thank you, wil, that was beautiful. I'm going to run upstairs right now and hug my Hockey Player!

Aaaaaaaaawwwwwwwww.

She's a very lucky girl.

*big sigh*

Wil, your so good at capturing moments in words. My bf and I are soulmates, and even though we haven't done the knot thing yet, I know we'll enjoy moments like yours when we're old. Mushy, mushy, I know...but it's all true. Happy anniversary to you two!

I think you forgot the part where a giant truck with big wheels drives by and drenches you in mud and water causing you to fall to the ground.

As you roll under a homeless guy's cardboard, shanty shack you go to kiss Anne and realize she has Spinach lodged between her teeth & her breath smells of Garlic. A large pocket of air escapes your buttocks further permeating the air with the stinch of Sulfur & Broccoli.

Fortunately with the trapped gas and a trusty lighter you're able to build a small campfire which keeps you warm throughout the rainy night. A smile glues to your face as he serenades both of you with horrible renditions of "Muskrat Love" and every song by Air Supply.

In your atypical jaded, Hollywood boredom with each other you occasionally pay the man to strip naked, play the Tuba, and juggle your dog every other Saturday night.

I don't think we're in Kansas anymore. Ain't love grand? I think I'm just jealous cause I'm not in love. I'm glad you found someone special in your life. I sometimes get tired of the lovey dovey stuff I hear from my friends. Maybe someday love will come knocking at my door again.

Wil u bastard! you've now demolished all hope of me ever finding a man who lives up to your standards!
seriously though, thats like the best piece of fiction ive ever read, except its not fiction, which makes you wonderful :)

*melts into a mooshy puddle*

reminds me of 2 people I know very well :)

happoy anniversary!

If I had any doubts before about the pure poetry you are capable of, mr. wheaton, they have been dispelled. Whether it's a reference to pomegrantes in Hades, or the other half of your heartbeat, you have a way with words.
I wish the two of you nothing but the best.

goose bumps

Cmon Wil, admit it. This entry is just an excerpt from your "touched by an angel" script. It makes my teeth hurt.

Oingo Boingo does rule...Danny Elfman get your priorities together and get the band back together and quit regurgitating the same scores for the movies!!!! NO ONE LIVES FOREVER!!!
jz

May you please be the first canidate for cloning?!

I am sure that women would line up in numbers....

You are sooooooo sweet..

Thank you for a lovely post.

That was truly lovely, Wil. Happy anniversary, you're quite the catch.

I wish my husband was home from work.

That is so sweet, I just had to share my reaction to your joy. That, and to say one more thing: don't itch.

awwww, excuse me while I melt! That's so sweet!=o)

Ashley

Your words paint such a beautiful portrait of the love you and your wife share. I guess that's why so many of us admire your work...in whatever form you deliver it to us.
Hope you've had a great day!

Wil, you are simply an inspiration!
Thanks for being my "muse"! :-)
Love ya, dude!
Uncle Willy, ROCKS!!!

I had that...maybe I still do...I don't know anymore. But it's magical when you have it, and I'm glad you do.

I live in Santa Barbara, by the way. Go to UCSB, in fact. It's a fantastic place. :)

AWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW!!!

Heh, state street on Christmas day:
Clara, Alana, and Thal are walking down the street. SUV drives past. Person in SUV sticks their head (and, verily, half their body) out the window and says "HAPPY FUCKING CHRISTMAS!"

Next time you go to Santa Barbara, head up to Goleta, get off at Glen Annie, turn left, take a right onto Hollister, and a left at the street just past the 7-11 (I can't remember the name right now, I haven't been home in about two years). Go straight down to the dead end and park. If you go up the hill to your right, through the woods, you'll find a path to the beach. Walking along that path, you'll see some of the most beautiful beach views Santa Barbara. It's right near the butterfly sanctuary, so in summertime, you get tons of butterflies, too.

I think there is something very magical about feeling so much in love in the rain (even if it is 40 degrees!). I imagined you "Singing in the Rain" as I read this post.

Thanks for sharing and Happy Anniversary to you both.

Oh, and for the record, last month--the November that Wil's talking about here--Santa Barbara did indeed have a storm like he described, and it was at least in the lower 50s if not in the 40s after the sun set. Don't scoff...it's COLD here in the winter time.

This story just reminds me of the things I look forward to when I am married..the smallest things can mean so much.Darn you Wil...I am single and sometimes enjoy it and when I read this it reminded me of why I wanted to be married someday soon..From what I hear you have a great relationship with her and I hope that it stays that way always! Have you or will you ever write about how you both met and what brought you together? If you have already written it will you post it again? I must hear this!

Awwwww...*sniff*

Thats so beautiful

*wipes a tear that could never be there*

If if had a heart it would both flutter and crash at the emotional weight of this post.

Everyone point at the lucky, lucky man.

yay wil and anne!!!

*wipes away happy tears*

Thank you, Wil. That was beautiful. And now, more than ever, I can't wait for my honey to come back from Germany next week. He's been there for three months...I get to see him a week from tomorrow.

*sniff*

You totally reaffirmed the big crush I had on you when I was 10. I remember reading something in a novel by Tom Robbins (Another Roadside Attraction, I think) about rain, and how most people, when they don't have umbrellas, hunch themselves against the rain, trying to make themselves smaller, as though to hide from it. It stuck with me, and this post reminded me that it takes a special kind of person to walk comfortably and confidently in cold rain. You're a lucky man to have found a lady who can help you walk in the rain.

(first post on your blog - been reading for about a week. you kick booty)

Wow. How beautiful. *smile*

Lovely. And since it's raining out and I'm a newlywed, you've made me want to pull my law student husband away from his books and go play in the rain.

Congratulations on your anniversary.

*smiles*
That was wonderful. You have an amazing ability to make me feel like I'm right there with you. You are very lucky to have a woman like Anne and she is very lucky to have a guy like you.

And just for the record, I LOVE walking in the rain. I have since I was little.

Cool! I'm printing this one out and taking it home for my honey to read. He makes me feel like this too! Thanks Will.

*stares at screen, mouth agape, stiffles sobs*

Wow - Wil, if we could bottle that - I'd make you (and me) werrry well to do ;-). Don't stop.

Awww, Wil. That is the cutest thing like ever. *sigh* You know, when I read about you and Anne, I think how I want to be in a marriage as happy as that when I get married. Keep up the good work! :)

very sweet! I'm all moonpies and googly-stars now...

BOINGO STILL RULES

J.C.

Oh my goodness! That was the sweetest thing I have ever read in my life! I hope someday I can write as well as you, Wil.

I especially liked "She says they're green, but they're blue...I see them whenever my mind wanders, so I know."

You da man.

You know, you honestly take my breath away sometimes. You are a smooth, classy man. You give us single ladies the hope that perhaps there are men out there who notice the little things.

Happy Anniversary you two!

raquel

Is this a kissing book?

Wil -
Thanks for provoking so much of the deep-down sappiness in just about all of these responses.

Warm love and cold rain are a pretty great recipe for an unforgettable night out; had one of those this summer -- glad you guys had such a great one. Relationships can be so glorious...especially when there's room in the middle of the romance for the word "weenie."

I'd like to see you two try that up here in Canada. You think it is cold there. Try -20c wind chill. But anyways.....lovely story. Thank you so much for sharing it. Made me feel all warm and cozy in side. You both are a very sugary cute couple.;)

Wil,
That is just awesome!!!!!!!!!!

FG

Dear Wil,

A coupla weeks ago I left a post somewheres on your site that said that "We Close Our Eyes" was my fave Boingo song, because it always reminds me of my sweet and beautiful wife, and when we first met.

Thank you for titling your post today with this meaningful phrase, and for writing such a nice tale of love triumphant.

Yesterday was our third anniversary.

It was around 10 degrees here last night, so we lit a fire in our fireplace -- the first since we moved into this apartment. Romantic, no?

"And if you love me
and if we really try
we can make the seconds count
then we can close our eyes"

Thank you. You da man.

Ohh! you guys are the cutest!!! But I know how you feel. My husband and I are much the same way! Isn't it great?

Some guys get ALL the luck. :)

Right now, 40 degrees sounds absolutely balmy...
:::shivers:::

sure, he can write the mush, but he never knew what to do with his hands on TNG! Ever notice that? They just hung there all awkward and stuff!

Just joshing you, Willy.

Well, it is a bit long in the tooth, but Que Sara Sara!

That is the sweetest thing ever written here. Thank you for sharing, Wil.

Okay, I'm recalling that you're an Oingo Boingo fan and thinking that the heading of today's post may be in reference to a song they did with the same title. Then again, it could be in reference to a song with that same title by Go West (it was their first US hit in '85). Of course, I could be wrong on both accounts.

Regardless of the reference - or possible lack thereof, your story was great. While I haven't felt that way in years (nay, in over a decade), it's only because I'm single. I envy you, Uncle Willie - not because you're in love, but because you understand how important it is to relish that feeling and share it. Yeah, you've sharing alright - as you always do. I wasn't sure I could like or relate to you any more than I did after the Aunt Val story, but this definitely boosted my WW stock.

You know what's unique about this whole thing? Both this and the Aunt Val story are about love. One is about the understanding and depth that comes with loss, and this one is about the understanding and depth in just being alive and in love. Thanks for sharing, Wil. Believe it or not, some of us come here daily and though we may post infrequently, we do get it - and you.

Your fan,

Jerry

Hey, Wil, do you realize how many guys are gonna get lucky tonight because their wife/girlfriend/partner-in-sin read this post and got all googly-eyed? Same goes for the guys.
America thanks you. :)

As nauseatingly sweet as that was, I'd be pretty happy with 40 degrees and rain. It's currently too cold to snow in Toronto. :) Enjoy your love.

I'm speechless. Thank you for sharing such an intimate moment with your monkeys.

Ana Marylee

I needed that Wil. Thank You. =)

::sniff:: =D

Beautiful. Perfect. Love.

I have that you know. I have that perfect feeling for a person, but I'm not getting it in return. That's why your entry made me cry. But i love reading entries like this anyway. Call me an old-fashioned sap. lol.

Trying to hold back the Sedaka...sorry...I can't...keep...it...in...
"Ooh, I hear laughter in the rain,
walkin' hand-in-hand with the one I love.
Ooh, how I love the rainy days
and the happy way I feel inside..."

HAPPY ANNIVERSARY!, ya big softie.
Oh, and thanks for sharing a beautiful, intimate glimpse of two people truly, madly, deeply in love. Hmm, maybe you should consider writing romance novels....

...then I might consider reading them...

"Wuv, true wuv, is what bwings us togewher today."

Sweetest thing I've ever read!

Boy, do I miss THAT feeling... sigh.

Great story - you both are very lucky to have each other.

you made me cry. it seems i cry so easily now. i can only hope that one day i find someone that will think of me the way you do your wife. v touching.

Six and a half years of marriage here, and this evening over supper my husband looked at me and said, "I'm falling wildly, madly, passionately in love with you again. Is that okay?" I smiled back and called him a loon. We always love each other, but there are moments when it all seems new again, and it's wonderful.

I had just finished watching the episode of TNG where everyone gets intoxicated and Wesley takes over the ship. I think Wil caught some of that before posting this, but I'll take some of what he's got.

The situation sounds like something that would be cheesy, but comes across as mature, intelligent, and full of beauty. Nicely done.

i've been told that i'm pretty damned cynical about love and all that stuff, but that little excerpt of writing made me smile, and makes me wonder if there is hope for love afterall...

Enjoy your love, for in many years you will
look back and wonder at what you had.
And if you are as lucky as I am you will
look at each other after 15 years and know
that love can and does last.

Happy Anniversary Wil and Anne
and anyone else here who are celebrating
love.

"Where is my mind" just happens to be the name of one of my favourite Pixies songs...Black Francis wants to know where his mind is; turns out his mind is in the river - "in the water see it spinning" - cute lyrics...

Is it sacrilege to say that the post was one of the cornier things I've read in a while? Not that it's bad, your prose is well done, I just have to say that I almost strained my eyeballs from their constant rolling.

by the way, you're linked to my extremely modest blog...I'm a fan despite your sappiness.

as a wise man once said:
wesley: "How can a chemical substance provide an escape?" Yar: "It doesn't. But it makes you think it does."

Wesley and Lt. Yar
TNG/"Symbiosis"

ahh, epic cheesiness...

That was beautiful.

Thank you for sharing.

Excellent, Wil! Congratulations on your anniversary! w00t!

yesterday was our anniverary. I know how you feel. we've been married for 4 years. I congratulate you.

Blogs are wierd. I'd heard much about them, but, after sampling a few, could not see the attraction. A few months ago, I happened on this one. Something caught my eye, I revised my opinion of Wil Wheaton. I came back.

Notes like this are why, though this is easily the sappiest, and, yet, most beautiful I've seen here to date. This post captures the essence of new love that remains despite its' age.

Bravo, sir. Happy anniversary to you both, and many happy more. I believe I will go and spend some time with my own wife, and recall how blessed I am to have her.

My best friend just got married this past weekend. After reading your post Wil, my only hope is that Nicky and her husband are as happy as you and Anne are. Incidentally, whoever says guys can't be romantic have obviously never met you or my boyfriend.

Glad most of you kids liked this.

Listen up, naysayers: I adore my wife. Deal with it.

That made me all warm and fuzzy. You are a very lucky man, to have woman like Anne.

I haven't had a romantic experience in the rain since 9th grade (19 years ago). It makes me long for Mr. Right and some rain in Southern California soon.

Bravo! you are learning the true meaning of life.

I have a smile on my face that's so big it hurts. This is one of the sweetest, most romantic, and most uplifting things I think I've ever read. I'd like to think that, one day, I could feel like this on my own behalf. It's wonderful to know that there are real people who can be so in love - not just fictional characters and daydreams. The writing is incredibly vivid and gives a wonderful sense of immediacy... If this doesn't truly capature the moment, I can't even begin to imagine what it must have been like.

That was one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. I actually got misty. You have a way of doing that to me Wil. I feel the same way about my husband, and while I don't really know if he feels the same way most of the time (because he doesn't express how he feels most of the time) it is nice to read these sorts of things and hope that he feels that way about me.

Plus, I can totally relate to what Anne said about walking in the rain, because I feel that way about it too. Especially summer rain. 40 degree rain is a little too chilly for me, but its still fun.

Anne wanted to coment on this, but she couldn't figure out how (one of the things I love about her is how computer-illiterate she is...it's a nice balance to me :)

Here's what she emailed me:

"This morning, I read your story about our anniversary trip to Santa Barbara. I read a few of the comments and wanted to say something as well.

I have to admit, when I read your story, even I got all teary-eyed. Yes, my GREEN eyes were holding back tears. Mostly because the way you wrote it was like living it all over again. But it also reminds me of how much I love you. You are my best friend and I plan to walk in the rain with you for the rest of my life.

No umbrella buddy!

I am so proud of your writing ability. You make
everything come to life.

Love,
me
"

Oh, that was like the sweetest post ever :) OH! Happy Anniversary!

wow. that was a really beautiful post! you two are very lucky.

A beautifully written blog to with a beautiful evening :)

Oh my god, Wil, that was beautiful!

You got me all teary-eyed. . . . :)

Damnit TV's Wil Wheaton, THIS is why I want to have your love child!

Que romantico...

*swooning sigh*

That was so gorgeous, Wil. I had a huge smile on my face while reading your story. Happy anniversary!

*hugs*

That is sooo sweet!!!! *sighs* Its great to be in love. I know because I currently am. =o)

Youre such a cutie, Wil. Anne is lucky. Or are you the one whos lucky? Hmmm....*cheesy grin*

*wipes tears from her eyes*
I am such a sentimental fool, but that was just so sweet I can't help it.

You and Anne are so great together.

I must admit I am a little jealous, I wish my soon-to-be exhusband had felt the same for me, but that doesn't stop me from appreciating the love you two share for each other.

Truly beautiful Wil.

I wish you and Anne many more years of walking in the rain together and, of course, of her calling you a weenie.

Oh, and one of you has got to be color blind...and its usually the man...after all woman are always right anyway.

Ohhh! What a lovely experience, you guys are so lucky to have found each other! Thankyou for sharing it with all of us. :)

Excellent post, and I got a little misty , felt some of the romance, too.I have none right now but there is always hope !
I keep seeing that scene from the English Patient when they take Ralph Fiennes out to enjoy the rain... in my mind... I could see the cinematic quality of this scene.
HAPPIEST OF FUTURE YEARS TO YOU BOTH.

simply beautiful

I had tears in my eyes Wil.
*sniff*
You went and made me seem all unmanly now!

I KNEW reading this page was going to cheer me up - Wil, you are the man! I hope you and your wife stay so happy for the rest of your lives - you both deserve it! Man, that is one cool, story.
Oh, and Annie - I know exactly what you mean, I'm a 20 year old Christmas junkie too!! Hahaha!!!!

That makes me feel for a moment not nearly so alone

The women:

"Awwww he's so cute, I want to have his babies."

The men:

"Smooth bastard."


;-) Nice post, Wil.

Sounds great. So when are you guys gonna have kids of your own then ?? Sounds like your marriage is perfect to bring a family into !!!

That was so sweet. Hope everything's always this great for you both. :):):)

Wil, that was a really sweet post. I can totally relate to it- my husband and I have the same sort of relationship. I'm glad you had such a great anniversary, and I think that you and Anne are both very lucky. People say that marriage is hard work, but honestly, I think that if you really found the right person, it's very easy. Happy Anniversary, Wil and Anne, and many, many more...
Love, Alicia
www.thewagband.com

Oh my god. That is the most romantic thing I've ever read.

Will you and Anne marry me?

I hope that I can be that happy one day, you sound like you're really in love, and better still enjoying it.

I sware it must be the season for love, all my friends have paired off and stuff (either that or people want to make sure they get decent prezzies for xmas).

Since I am not in love and certainly am not going to be in love in the forseeable future I only have one thing to say

*Pass the bucket I think I'm going to be sick*

There's just to much fluffiness and cuteness going a round. I don't like it.
(Well actually I do I'm just really jelous).

Spike
1.30pm GMT
5.12.02

Well done Wil. Well said Anne. You kids enjoy every second. Many congratulations, may the rest of your years be at least this happy.

Thanks so much for this, Wil. Yesterday was my and my husband's anniversary as well, so your timing on this entry couldn't have been more perfect.

Reminds me of my college days with my now husband up in Oregon. Now I'm in Minnesota and it's like -11 degrees with wind chill and I'm freezing my ass off. God, I miss the Pacific Northwest...

Loved your entry. Better than most romance novels out there. :)

wow. that was so amazingly beautiful it brought words to my eyes..I only hope I find love like that someday. :-) (ps you made my day warm and fuzzy..thanks!)

DOH. as I just got done with third shift at work I am not very coherent at the moment... I meant "it brought TEARS to my eyes" :P

Soon, wil...very soon, you will be known as one of America's finest writers. I predict it now, today. You have this intuitive sense of what is exactly the right style to use to describe what is in your heart; it flows from that child within you to the page, perfectly smooth, perfectly timed, and perfectly prose/poetic. Each word draws the eye to the next; we cannot stop reading your heart's face, for it binds our own hearts to it, and we merge into one experience, one commonality, and one timeless consciousness. I don't think that you realize yet the power that you possess, Wil. You are beginning to sense it, though. Thank God your heart is pure, mostly. To me, you are sublime!

Carpe diem, everyone.

SB resident here. Damn, I could've run into Wil downtown last month! There was indeed quite the torrential downpour in November, the likes of which I haven't seen here since El Nino in 97/98. The streets were indeed empty. And while we Santa Barbarians may exaggerate about how cold it gets, it definitely wasn't 70 and sunny! Nice story though, Wil.

This was too beautiful for words... you both are so fortunate to have found one another. It gives me hope that someday, I too, may be fortunate enough to find the love that you both share. I'm overwhelmed with emotion... would have been so fricken funny if Anne threw you into one of those puddles...heh, heh. :)

wow, my wife is a bitch. She likes to accuse me of "cheating with my heart" whenever they show someone moderately attractive on TV. Heaven forbid they should show Elizabeth Hurley. I know I'm getting an ass whoopin for sure if that happens.

bitch

Man, that just made me want to cry is was so beautiful.

I've been lurking for a while, but this post was so beautiful and inspired me so much that I have to comment.

After reading your beautiful prose yesterday, I took advantage of the evening snow storm we got here in St. Louis and went out with my husband for a walk. We strolled along the snow covered sidewalks, batting snowflakes from our eyelashes and just reveled in each other. Cuddled up to one another for warmth, my breath fogging up his glasses, we truly felt at one with each other.

Thank you Wil for a truly inspiring post, and reminding us all how lucky we are to have love. It's so easy to take things in life for granted and anything that causes us to slow down and reflect on the good things is truly wonderful.

Happy Anniversary Wil and Anne! May you have many many many more love-filled years ahead of you.

I also have been a lurker for a while. As a voracious romance novel reader (yes,yes I know...), I have to say your description was truly marvelous. I especially teared up at Anne's response to the post. You are both very lucky as I hope you know.

I'm so glad I found out about this site. You have become a part of my day.

Thank you.

That's one of the most romantic posts I've ever read on a weblog. period.

Wil, you are kick-ass writer. That was mind-blowingly awesome. Maybe you should do workshops for "how to woo your love..."

Wow... Whoever said romantic and emotion men are wusses have no idea what they are talking about because right now you, Wil, are the sexiest man on this earth! DAMN! Anne is one lucky woman.

Wil,

That was soo beautiful... Thank you....

This was a great piece of writing, and definitely reflects a wonderful marriage -- it made me smile just reading it. Then I remembered that I'm lucky enough to be in the same boat, in love with my wife with whom I've been for almost 13 years (married 7 of 'em). Our rules: (1) Never forget to say "I love you" and truly mean it at least thrice a day, (2) Don't go to bed angry, and (3) Make your partner laugh at least as much as they make you do it. Lots of joy to the both of you and keep up the good work!

hey wil,
you'll probably never get this far down the comments to ever read this, but i'm delighted to know that you and anne spent your anniversary here in santa barbara. it's a pretty special community and those of us who live here know it. i try to take a moment everyday to be thankful that i get to live here. (even when it rains!) if you two ever make it up here on a weeknight you can catch me on the air 7p to mid on 103.3 kruz fm. give me a ring if you hear me. i'd love to hear from you!

Wil,

That brought a tear to my eye! That was better than reading a romance novel. Wonderful post.

What a wonderful thing to share with all of us. :)

Wil, you rule. You simply rule.

you are so lucky!! keep up the good work!

Well, that's a lovely story, even more so because it's true. It was so good that your wife felt compelled to comment about it (and thanks for letting us read it). When you can write something that makes folks stop and think and feel, that's powerful. Now, excuse me while I go take a good, long look at my loved one.

Glad to know I'm not the only insane woman who enjoys innocent flights of fancy such as walking in the rain and splashing about in puddles.

Hopefully, I'll someday get a guy that doesn't look at me like I'm crazy when I do it.

Will, you're wife sounds wonderful, and any woman who can enjoy such wonderful things is likely to keep that joyous spirit to the end of her days. You are indeed a lucky fellow, my friend.

Why, I, In this weak piping time of peace,
have no delight to pass away the time.

Ah - that is so romantic and sweet. Reminds me of my husband and I...

Happy Anniversary!

Wil, that was one of the most beautiful things I've ever read. I can tell you're still madly in love, and that's awesome.

Here's to walking in the rain!!!!

I cried, I am still crying. WOW. I just...wow...you guys are just so...wow!

That was one of the loveliest things I have read in a very long time. Keep writing, Wil. You are very, very talented.

A nice little story, Will. Very sweet, very romantic. But it manages to give me the urge to slap the hell out of you with a dead fish. Then again, I'm still adjusting to the "non-single" life. Still have some bitterness. Sappy but nice story.

Now that's romance...sometimes it seems it's in short supply in this day and age.

Best of luck to the two of you.

If anyone can find me a woman like this, name your price.

*squish*squish* Never when I found the Blog of young Ensign Crusher did I expect to see such a touching entry about the love of his life.

You are a beautiful soul Wil Wheaton, and damn if Anne isn't lucky. :)

--Tom
Now devoted Wilwheaton.net reader.

Typical to my name, when I saw your wife's comment about her eyes being green, and you seeing them as blue, a song came to mind:

So excuse my forgetting, but these things I do
You see I've forgotten if they're green or they're blue
Anyway the thing is - what I really mean
Yours are the sweetest eyes I've ever seen
And you can tell everybody this is your song
It may be quite simply but now that it's done
I hope you don't mind, I hope you don't mind
That I put down in words

How wonderful life is now you're in the world
I hope you don't mind
I hope you don't mind that I put down in words
How wonderful life is now you're in the world


and as I think in song, I picture this to be the most perfect backing to this beautiful, and emotional scene. Touching, Will.

WolfSong

damn you wil! my eyes are welling up and i'm still at the office!

thank you, though, for sharing such a beautiful and intimate moment with us.

Cool. I know what you mean. When you meet your soulmate, nothing compares.

"I can show you that when it starts to rain, everythings the same"
"rain, I don't mind..."

Your post has brought tears to my eyes. My boyfriend died 3 weeks ago of the cancer he'd been suffering on and off through his 26 years, losing an eye and a leg to it. I miss him so badly. We didn't have long together. We originally met online 3 and a half years ago, chatted at least twice a week, and when he knew he was dying, he asked if he could meet me. We had 19 precious days in each other's company.

Treasure every moment as if it were your last. One day it will be.

Peace.

*blinks...pokes wil's shoulder* you DO exist... wasn't sure a male like that could

Yo Wil, am I crazy or were you quoting from a boingo song? I love that song, listen to it if you havnt.

*sniffle, sniffle* That was beautiful. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I'm happy for you two. :)

"The cold cuts straight through me", i have this problem daily, but they make such a good lunch!

This is the most beautiful posts I have ever read.

I read it and my heart echos, because I understand how it feels to be that in love.

thank you, for having the "words" to describe that feeling.

THAT is exactly the painful joy I felt on our wedding day and throughout this past week as we adjust to our newly enriched life with our newborn daughter

Could you like...have a chat with my boyfriend?

It's been great reading this story.
I'm speechless after reading it.
I hope that one day I could find someone who can love me like you do.

Find someone to feel the way you feel.

"A wise man knows when to get out of the rain."

We have but fleeting moments, and then only memories remain. blah... blah... blah...

Dude, this is a premium example of the bitter sweet moments that forge a life well lived. In honesty thanks for sharing, in humor how was that case of pneumonia?

Plato

Hey, thanks! I'm writing my wedding vows, and I think I may gank your line "I know why she is the other half of my heartbeat" and paraphrase. I love that line. It's so perfect and so totally how I feel about my other geek half :-)

You are a lucky man:) Never let her go!