May 11, 2012

"Amor Vincit Omnia".

I return to my online diary after almost two months absence, in the height of spring, at the onset of white nights and a period of growth and renewal.

A diary is a like a time capsule. It captures events, preserves our thoughts and impressions of a given moment, enabling us to relive our history and revisit our past by reading the written lines. As I scroll through my old posts, the changes my reality underwent over the years make me smile. That is the infinite magic of life - we never know what waits around the next bend.

The two rings I wear today are attestation to two defining moments of such changes in my very recent past.
As long as I live I will recall every single detail of the occasions when these two rings were given to me. My memory is saturated by vivid snapshots of these two extraordinary moments in time. Only ten days apart, they account for the two most important events of my life.

The ring worn on my one hand is my engagement ring.
Beautiful silver ring covered by red garnets. This was the ring with which I was asked to marry the love of my life. In front of our families, on a sunny day this April, the proposal was exactly as the incurable romantic within me always imagined - indeed even better. It took place in the beautiful gardens below the Prague castle, saturated by the first spring bloom. High above the historic city, the man that only a year prior stole my heart went down on one knee underneath the pink blossom of a cherry tree, asking for my hand in marriage.

My engagement lasted barely two weeks.
Exactly ten days later, on the first of this May, I said my second yes in the city hall in our home, receiving a beautiful titanium band that now adorns the ring finger of my other hand. I look at it constantly, as it makes me recall our wedding day, which was shared by the two of us only. I loved the simplicity of this precious, deeply intimate moment in time, which eternelized our love.

Ever since I was a little girl, I had visions and dreams of what my wedding day would be like. I think most little girls - and most single women - do. As I grew into a young woman, those dreams started to slowly fade. Not because I did not wanted to get married, but because I started to worry that the man I was searching for did not exist. As years went by and my relationships fell apart one by one, I gave up on my romantic dreams of getting married. I felt like a stupid old fool, still thinking in a young girls terms.

Still, our reality can change in a blink of an eye and as one of the most trying periods of my life was slowly concluding last year, the one that made me doubt happiness and life itself and I wondered secretly whether I was ever going to be smiling again, my fate turned around.
On a warm April day I took a stroll down by the sea with a handsome man - and my life was never going to be the same again.
He came out of nowhere and I knew he was the one. From the very start everything about him was so very different than anything else that I recognized and could relate to. And everything about him was exactly right. He made me believe again.

Thus that which I gave up on a long time ago came to pass. Several decades later than I ever imagined, the event itself though surpassed all my childhood dreams and will remain imprinted in my memory until the end of my days.

Amor Vincit Omnia.
This was written on the back of one of the wedding cards we received.  
Love Conquers All.
And indeed it does. There are no rules and no manuals when it comes to love. There is no right time, right age or right place. Love is versatile and complicated, yet is is also so very unpretentious and easy. It will come to us when we least expected it and it can not be predicted, anticipated, rushed or manipulated. True love is a product of pure mind, endless courage and incurable hope.

It only takes once to get it right. I waited almost half a century to say my yes, yet in hindsight I realize that I would do it all over again. Finding the man of my dreams is worth the wait of a life time.

Dedicated to my husband - my soul-mate and my best friend.



38 comments:

Myrna R. said...

Zuzana, what beauty you capture in these words. I can't begin to tell you how happy I am for you. Thank you, thank you so much for allowing us to share in your joy. I feel as if I attended your wedding day. I thought of you often during your absence. Glad you're back Mrs.

Anonymous said...

Congratulations to you both! I am so happy for you : ) Your words here are so beautiful and touching. Fairy tales do come true!
As I've mentioned before, our stories of love have many parallels. I waited 3 decades for the right one and we have now been married almost 3 years. I wish you joy and love and many years of bliss!
P.S. I am returning slowly to blogging after a 4 month break.

Jill from Killeny Glen said...

OH JOY Zuzana! I was WAITING on THIS post! When I saw your announcement on May Day I was so VERY happy for you and your sweet new husband! (kinda suspected it might be on the horizon for you!)

Congratulations. MANY, MANY blessings upon your new life together!

With love,
Jill

Darla said...

So very happy for you! Similar to you, I also only met my soul-mate near my mid-life turning and am deeply grateful. And yet, I know that if I had met him ten or twenty years earlier, I would not have *recognized* him -- I needed the time, the years, the experiences to become the one he would love and vice versa. May your moments every one be filled with the blessings of a lifetime of journeying.

Elizabeth said...

Again you fill my heart with happiness. I always wanted you to be this happy and finally you found your man. He is yours forever.

Kath said...

OOOOH I am swooning with delight, whirling with surprise and crying with happiness.
May your lives together be as happy and filled with love and laughter as the day you were married xxxxxxxxx

G said...

How completely wonderful! Congratulations to you both, and thank you so much, dear Zuzana, for writing so eloquently of the beautiful phase you have reached in your life and the joy you have being here and now. Many years of happiness and love to you and your handsome groom. This just made my whole weekend! :)

G said...

P.S. Your new profile shot is gorgeous! You are radiating lightness and joy!

Brian Miller said...

yay yay yay...aww this is so awesome zu....i am so happy for you...and your love...congratulations...it is so great to have you back as well...this left me with big smiles...

Mimi said...

Oh WOW! Congratulations Zuzana and your Man!
You are so happy, and it shines through in every word of this post!
And I'm so happy for you!

Julie Hibbard said...

Hooray! Congratulations! And Welcome Back!! You are a GORGEOUS bride and I am OH SO happy for you!!
I have visions of my own wedding being exactly the same...just me and my beautiful man. What else could you possibly need...

Betsy Brock said...

That is just wonderful! :) I'm SO happy for you! What lovely photos, too! Thanks so much for sharing! :) xo

SandyCarlson said...

Just plain awesome. I am happy for you.

lilybets said...

Congratulation,love wins always...I wish all the best,my dear friend,that your heart will be all days filled of joy !

Rahul Bhatia said...

Lovely post Zuzana! Welcome back:)

Janelle Goodwin said...

Congratulations, Zuzana! You look absolutely radiant!

Anonymous said...

What a beautiful beautiful post!

I'm so very happy that your dreams have come true!

Anonymous said...

I was thinking of you the other day and wondering when you would return to blogging - we've missed you, Zuzana!
Life has so many surprises - I am so happy for you!!!
Hugs,
Zuzu

Rowan said...

Congratulations on your wedding - what wonderful news! I wish you both a very long and happy marriage.

Amanda Summer said...

how absolutely wonderful to read this news - you deserve all of this happiness and i wish you a lifetime of love and many many blessings, dear zuzana. thank you for sharing this most intimate and life affirming event in your life with us. so happy to have you back in the blogging world and will be looking forward to once again reading your beautiful words on a regular basis.

with love,

amanda

xoxo

Rajesh said...

Beautiful moments will be cherished forever. Good to see you back.

bright star said...

I am so happy for you both,glad to have you back.I too had various relationships and 2 husbands and I felt that I was destined to be alone but then I met Steve and he was the one and still is.we have ups and downs and I expect you may sometimes but never let the sun go down on without making up.Life is to short and prescious to waste any of it. Lots of love Angelaxxx

tony said...

Welcome Back Zuzana.Happy Times!

Catherine said...

What a lovely happy post. Well worth the wait Zuzana x

Diane said...

So happy for you... and so happy you're still here :) xo

Margie said...

What a lovely post about love. I've always said, "when you least expect it". Glad you are happy, happy! I like your new photo at the top of your blog, you siren you!

Hilary said...

Your happiness makes me happy. Welcome back, dear Z. :) :)

steviewren said...

What happy news! Congratulations and may you both share many many years of happiness together.

Reading Tea Leaves said...

What wonderful and surprising news Zuzana! Many congratulations on your wedding, I wish you and your lovely man every happiness for the future.

You write so beautifully of love, life and dreams that it has quite taken my breath away. Through tears of joy, I send my love ....

Jeanne
xxx

SandyCarlson said...

I am happy for you. You fill me with hope! Thank you for coming back to your online diary!

S. Susan Deborah said...

Zuzana, your story is an example to the fact that one should never stop dreaming. See See, how your dreams came true. You are always an inspiration, dear Zuzana. Age and other factors have nothing to do when it comes to living the dreams.

I join all the others here in wishing you and Peter love, joy, peace, health and contentment always.

Many congratulations.

xoxoxoxo

Joy always,
Susan

P. S: Gosh, we have known each other for so long, Zuzana. feels like a life-time. And, I am so happy for Peter and you.

Kat_RN said...

I am so very happy for you! Congratulations!
As usual, your words are beautiful too.
Cheers and the very best of wishes,
Kat

Anonymous said...

This was such a beautiful post I am speechless dear.
I think about you a lot as you have to face the next months on your own. Sending my love, I know being separated from the love of your life is tough.xx

Ruby said...

Congratulations Zuzanna!!! Fabulous photos and the happiness leaps off your lines :)) Loved your post and you look radiant and happy in your picture. Cheers and wishes for a lifetime of love and happiness, Ruby

A Lady's Life said...

Oh My Goodness!!!
You did it girl!!!

Congratulations!!! to you and to your wonderful man.
May you both have eternal happiness joy and health.

I am soo happy for you. You found what you were looking for and sometimes it pays to wait till you find just the right thing.
God Bless you both!!!!!
:)

adrielleroyale said...

OOOOhhhhhh!!! I am beyond incredibly happy for you!!! Congratulations my dear sweet friend!! Words aren't enough, I am just so incredibly happy for you :)))

Laura said...

Oh Zuzana...I am so happy for you...It has clearly been too long since my last visit...look what has happened!!! Mazal Tov! I wish for you the love kind of love I have in my marriage (24 years on June 4th!!!)

Unknown said...

I'm very late in wishing you many blessings in your new marriage! Congratulations to you both!