Twelve years ago today, the former Mira Thomas of Brooklyn, N.Y., and I became husband and wife at First Nazarene Baptist Church in my native Camden, N.J. I should say, that is, the former "Lovely Mira Thomas," since that's what her Newsday colleagues called her while we dated. Yes, a dozen years later, she's still oh so lovely.
And, yes, times sure have changed. In 1999, many of the 200 friends and loved ones who witnessed our nuptials had to come from New York, North Carolina and elsewhere. Today, nearly that same number shared their love and congratulations via Facebook. Amazingly, more than 115 people hit the "like" button on Mira's post featuring one of her favorite wedding photos. More than 50 of them took time to offer a comment. They all did so presumably from the comfort of their homes on this Sunday and the flurry blew away Mira's previous most-liked post: the one in which she let everyone know that a new Five Guys restaurant was opening in our Chicago neighborhood.
Mira and I greatly appreciate the virtual hugs. For more of the lovely Mira, check out the audio slideshow and companion website that I gave her as 10th anniversary presents in 2009. The slideshow offers smiles aplenty along with one of my favorite songs, “Your Smile.” You can find other audio slideshows capturing our wedding and our life together here and on the 2009 site. By the way, on that site we answer an often-asked question: how did we meet?