Today is our 8th wedding anniversary, we were married in a big barn on a rainy in the first Bedlam Farm in West Hebron, N.Y. Lulu and Fanny were the bridesmaids and they ate the flowers on each other’s neck. My brother came to see me for the first and last time in many years, the dogs were my best men and women.

This day, June 10 th, turned out to be the most important day of my life, the only other day  that comes close was the birth of my daughter Emma. I can still hardly believe that this loving and radiant and gifted human wanted to commit to sharing her life with me.

All during the wedding, and in our vows, I assured her that she could leave at any time, no strings attached.

It took me five or six years to accept that this is not  likely to happen. She seems to want to stay with me.

Maria transformed my life, in so many different ways, and I am humbled to say I love her more today than even back then. Our love just seems to grow and deepen.

I want to dedicate the day to our marriage, I want to write about it and share some photographs. First, she is taking me out to breakfast, and then we are going to pick up her new Hyundai, it itself a celebration and new symbol of our connection to one anther, the ways in which we know each other, and the fiercely beautiful partnership that has come to characterize our relationship.

I am so fortunate, and so grateful to be married and to mark this day, so full of sunshine and happiness for me.

Breakfast first. Maria gave me a present of some wildflowers, which are on my desk, and I gave her a Chakra bracelet from India, she seems to love it.

Thank you all for sharing in this great good fortune of mine, and in witnessing it and honoring it. Love changes everything, it saved my life.

Many of you saw it long before I did, and thanks for sticking it out with me. When I had finally given up on love, I found it, and I leaned to never give up on love. It is everything.

I took this portrait of Maria, the other day, like all good portraits, it captured a piece of her soul.  I had to say something dirty to get her to smile like this, but it is a faithful glimpse of her radiance and powerful spirit. It takes a lot of heart to power a smile like that, I can’t do it myself.