Reaching 10 years of being a couple is special and glad that we pushed through anxieties (and a little ADHD) to make it official in our own way. Our wedding journey will take us from the small ceremony on 2/5/2025 with my sister and parents to many places, visiting friends and family to celebrate our marriage. Each step of the journey, this website will be updated with photos and videos from each small event. Keep coming back and seeing our journey unfold all year long. 💕
Ceremony Video Currently Being Edited
February 5th
“At first glance, the key and the lock it fits may seem very different,” Sazed said. “Different in shape, different in function, different in design. The man who looks at them without knowledge of their true nature might think them opposites, for one is meant to open, and the other to keep closed. Yet, upon closer examination he might see that without one, the other becomes useless. The wise man then sees that both lock and key were created for the same purpose.””
The Ceremony
The ceremony was as magical and greatly unusual than I ever imagined. It started with a lovely walk with my mom and stepmom from our bedroom to the altar, created with stacks of my Aunt Maureen’s books and covered with Eagles and Yankees tapestries. In the center, where my sister stood, was a Hufflepuff rug to symbolize the strong friendship that Michael and I share.
My sister started off the ceremony with the usual ceremonial touches, highlighting the important numerological note of the date and the fact that we have been together for 10 years. With lovely quotes from Brandon Sanderson and Tolkien to highlight our shared literary writers.
Both of us wrote down five qualities that we appreciate in one another, so before the declaration of intent, we spoke to each other out loud. Highlighting each other’s unique qualities and abilities to make each of us better people. It was a very special moment; the words flowing through our lips and our hearts. Acknowledging the laughs, struggles, and everything in between.
We were definitely nervous about everyone staring at us, as each of us had some glistening sweat perspiring from our foreheads. So, we were both happy to diligently listen and respond to the declarations of intent, place a ring on each other’s fingers, and kiss in from of everyone; signaling that the celebrations can begin.
Morgan and Company
After the ceremony, we ventured to Glens Falls City Park to catch the last light of the evening to take photos in the lovingly decorated gazebo. Michael even surprised me by telling me to turn by head and kissed me. Certainly, made for a magical and beautiful shot.
The funny aspect of sneaking photos in the gazebo is the rather strange change in enforcement of nighttime activities in the City Park that was orchestrated in the summer to curb nefarious individuals. But knowing that Michael and Lynda, our photographer and Deputy County Clerk, were there, we had no troubles with law enforcement.
Walking into the surprisingly quiet Morgan and Company restaurant was really lovely. It has been an incredible staple of Glens Falls since 2014; and something that Michael and I always loved dining at, when we saved up for it. The food, atmosphere, staff, and friendly interactions with Chef Rebecca Newell-Butters was lovely, as always. Highly recommended to anyone visiting the area.
The server was incredibly well-trained, even skillfully carrying a non-alcoholic Cosmo to the table and presenting champagne to everyone to end the evening.
Celebratory Dessert
Coming home after dinner, all of us immediately changed into more comfortable clothes to enjoy some celebratory dessert. Each cake was made by L&M Bakery in Riverside, NJ and Dickinson’s Delights in Glens Falls, NY.
The impeccably delicious Red Velvet cake with vanilla frosting from the lovely folks at Dickinson’s Delights was perfect. We became neighborly friends with Tamberlyn and Jon over the years, from their very spot at the Glens Falls Farmer’s Market to their bakery on Bay Street. And our love of their Red Velvet Cookies became a running joke whenever we saw them; usually with a sad note that they just ran out of them. But Tamberlyn provided a half-dozen Red Velvet cookies along with the cake when we picked it up that morning.
The cake from L&M Bakery was also fantastic, brought up from New Jersey by my mom and sister the day prior. It was a mix of chocolate and vanilla, as well as included a lovely message of congratulations written in frosting. Our sweet cravings are certainly satisfied for a while.
February 9th
Philadelphia Eagles Superbowl
The Sunday after the wedding ceremony, Michael and I ventured down to my Uncle Charlie’s house in New Jersey to watch the rematch Superbowl between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Philadelphia Eagles. It was a tumultuous task, given that we had a foot of snow covering our driveway from a recent snowstorm and we were coming out of a short, seasonal bout of sickness. But we made our way and got to witness an incredible game with the rest of the family.
It was exceptional wonderful to see everyone, now that Michael and I are officially married. The game provided lots of distractions, so our Marriage Celebration notebook remains empty for now. My family opted to wait to write in the notebook last Wednesday in order to process and think about what to write. And given the intense focus on the football game, we did not want to bother anyone with the task of thinking and writing something. But we have lots more visits and trips planned throughout the year; plenty of time to have it get filled out with lovely words from everyone.
Before leaving New Jersey, we stopped by the cemetery to visit the resting place of my grandfather. My cousin Tina had placed an Eagles plague nearby the day prior as a good luck charm for the game. It worked; the Eagles are Superbowl Champions once again!
My Pop-Pop must be smiling down from Heaven. Among our Palladino family in New Jersey, in the home of my Uncle Charles Palladino, all of us proclaimed the words, “This is for you, Pop-Pop!”
February 14th
Michael and I ventured to the Wood Theater in Glens Falls, NY to enjoy the Glens Falls Community Theatre’s production of Rent. The show originally premiered on Broadway back on February 13th, 1996, almost 30 years ago. The musical portrays Lower Manhattan, New York amidst the thriving days of bohemian culture and the HIV/AIDS crisis in the ‘80s. It was the last play by Jonathon Larson before he passed away suddenly mere weeks before the premiere. His legacy as a playwright lives on through Martha Banta, the original resident director of Rent, and several founding Adirondack Theater Festival members. Adirondack Theater Festival is a local organization in Glens Falls that puts on exciting new theater shows every summer. They recently celebrated 31 years since its founding. Gilles Chaisson, an early cast member, performed music from Rent at the second-ever Adirondack Theater Festival winter fundraiser.
One of the other incredible partnerships with this production of Rent, along with the many local non-profit and advocacy groups, is the display of a section of the AIDS Memorial Quilt, thanks to the Damien Center in Albany. Some of LGBTQIA+ community in the 80s were going through, what felt like, an extinction event, as this unknown disease caused countless suffering with a government that did not seem to care. Anthony Fauci, then head of the Laboratory of Clinical Investigation in the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID), spearheaded the research and secured funding to help combat the deadly disease. Today, a HIV/AIDS diagnosis is no longer a death sentence with treatment available.
Jonathon Larson’s Rent provides a chilling reminder of the uncertainty and devastation of this time period, along with a wonderful blend of diverse stories of love and resilience. Their title song, Seasons of Love, is my all-time favorite, and it perfectly encapsulates the marriage celebration that my husband and I are embarking on. And the lyrics also eloquently describe my own mother’s relationship advice to always be with someone for four seasons before making a commitment.
I never realized, until recently, the wisdom behind that advice. On the surface, it makes sense; every person shows a different side of them in the warmer and colder months. But the message goes deeper into the multitudes of changes in a person’s life over the course of 525,600 minutes in a year, as the lyrics from Seasons of Love remind us. So much can happen in a year.
February 23rd
Michael and I attended the Life of Pi stage play that was at Albany’s Proctors theatre recently. Both of us have never read the book or experienced the film, so we did not know what to expect; and we were blown away by the incredible portrayal of the memories of a teenager who survived a terrible shipwreck. The stage production of the play whisked all of us in the audience on a magical adventure from a rural zoo in India to the seas near Manilla to the shores of Mexico; all taking place between 1976-1978. Though as I found out, it is a fiction story by Yann Martel.
Perusing the backstory and interviews of Mr. Martel led to some interesting revelations that I will divulge throughout my review. While it is a fictional novel, there are elements of historical notes and fascinating stories that were discovered from the author as he began writing.
The story of Pi’s survival after a shipwreck, whether with animals or humans, is a journey of self-discovery, perseverance, survival strategies, and spiritual guidance. The power of humanity against the odds is a story that is well known and has a long history; it’s the reason why we are all still here on this Earth, living our lives. We owe everything to our past ancestors for surviving so many tumultuous events throughout history. And while the story of Pi is fictional, it is profoundly universal and important to always remember.
Something quite personal that connects my own life with Mr. Martel’s story, and it involves the tiger. Growing up, my grandparent’s home was filled with dozens of beautiful tiger photographs on their living room walls. And a few in the guest bathroom; sometimes causing terror when closing the door and seeing a ferocious tiger staring back. As I grew up, I had almost forgotten that connection to tigers until my husband gifted a stuffed tiger to me on our first date.
The connection of tigers in my life was recently apparent and heartwarming when my grandfather passed away last October. And the new addition of a collar to this stuffed tiger with a picture of my grandfather, Charles Palladino Sr., was on display in my arms at Proctor’s, as Michael and I enjoyed watching Life of Pi. Those that we lose will always be there in spirit, as Pi’s story tells us.
March 9th
We ventured down to Philadelphia to attend a Flyers game at the Wells Fargo Center recently. I learned a little history, current sports events, the latest technological innovations, and myself. It was an absolute blast, despite the disappointing final score for Philadelphia.
The experience throughout was enjoyable, regardless of the outcome. Michael and I learned that Insomnia Cookies, a favorite of ours, was in the stadium. Prices were bigger than normal, but the cookies were delicious. And I continued my abstinence from alcohol by drinking a Sam Adams “Just the Haze” non-alcoholic beer, which was cheaper than the tallboys of Bud Light for $16 each. I had reached a milestone recently on my sober journey: five months. And I am really enjoying the mental clarity so far.
The Wells Fargo Arena is massive, with a huge jumbotron in the center and lots of seats surrounding the rink. As the clock ticked closer to game time, a large counter appeared on the screens above. When it got to zero, the lights cut to black. We were then treated to a masterful, technologically sophisticated experience with lights, projection systems, videos, sounds, and stage craft.
On the screen was a moving video of the Flyer’s mascot, Gritty, dressed in Rocky Balboa attire, geared up for a fight. As the Rocky theme started to build its crescendo, Gritty arrived on the ice and skated from one end to the other. But it was more epic than expected, as video projections made it appear that the ice was breaking as he skated, with the rink being “rebuilt” as the Art Museum steps. For those that don’t know, the Philadelphia Art Museum is featured in an iconic moment during the Rocky franchise.
After the preshow, the game started. The stadium was abuzz with excitement, mixed with frustration, as the NJ Devils scored two goals in the first two periods. It seemed like the game was going to become a shut out until Jamie Drysdale scores a breakaway goal in the final four minutes. But it was not enough to overcome the deficit, especially as Dawson Mercer from the Devils scored an empty net goal in the last 18 seconds of the game.
During one of the breaks between periods, I walked along the hallways, admiring a detail of the stadium that I barely registered before: city names of surrounding areas to the stadium. Some of the names spanned well beyond Philadelphia to the South Jersey shore, like Sea Isle City and Wildwood. It was lovely to witness, and I am glad that the designers of the stadium thought it was a good idea to share the hundreds of cities and towns that travel here to see Philly sports games.
For Flyers fans, the fact that we still get excited for games even when they haven’t won a Stanley Cup in over 50 years, shows the power of sports and connection. Even with a four-game deficit, maybe the Flyers will take the team to the finals this year and break a 50-year championship slump. At least Philly sports fans had an Eagles championship win recently to tide them over.
March 14
Michael and I headed to Proctor’s Theatre again recently; this time to see the musical, Come from Away. It is incredibly pertinent for Michael. He grew up in Rockland County, right across the river from NYC when the Twin Towers fell on that fateful day of September 11, 2001. The true story that the musical is based on is incredibly heartwarming and shows a side of humanity that is often forgotten. It takes place in the town of Gander, Newfoundland during the couple days after American airspace was shut down from the terrorist attacks. Written by Irene Sankoff and David Hein, it liberally tells the story of some of the residents of Gander as well as some of the air travel passengers navigating the abrupt change in plans and international chaos.
The conversations and realizations from the residents of Gander in the opening act were surreal, as the audience knows what they are about to experience. Everyone has a story about where they were when they heard the news of the terrorist attacks. For myself, I was in elementary school in St. Charles Borromeo, a Catholic school, that was situated around hundred miles from each of the three incidents that occurred that day: the Pentagon crash, the destruction of the Twin Towers, and the tragic United 93 fall in the middle of Pennsylvania. My husband, Michael, was in a private school in North Jersey that had a clear view of the NYC skyline. The danger was certainly more imminent as everyone could see the horrific and senseless destruction.
After the initial chaos of air traffic controllers frantically diverting thousands of planes throughout country and nearby airports, 38 planes landed at Gander International Airport; close to 7,000 people who were suddenly delayed from their original destination. Given the confusion, it took nearly 28 hours for all the passengers to exit the planes while the town waited for FAA instructions to resume air travel. The musical does a fantastic job exploring and explaining the sheer boredom and unease for all the passengers stuck on the tarmac that day (and night). For those too young to remember, the world had fewer options for information. Cellphones were either too expensive or too limited. The Internet was just starting to accelerate in use, but data connections were limited to dial-up connections on desktop (or extremely bulky laptop) computers. It was a different time, for sure.
There were moments of fun and human camaraderie among the locals and the guests, whether karaoke, dancing, or a ceremonial "screech-in”. A “screech-in” is a real ceremony by Newfoundlander’s where they invite mainlanders, or those that “come from away”, to drink a shot of Screech Rum and kiss a codfish to become honorary residents. The strange, drunken ceremony imbues a sense of absurdity and community that embodies those that have chosen to remain in Newfoundland. The opening song detailed some of the extraordinary challenges for Newfoundlanders, like harsh winters and destructive hurricanes. Even with the tumultuous weather conditions, those that call Newfoundland home remain, creating a community through adversity.
Unfortunately, though the passengers received good news that they were disembarking after five days, America was still in the throes of a crisis. Terrorist attacks from the three incidents left a hollow feeling of loss, distrust, and anxiety. As the song “Something’s Missing” alludes, the country that some of the passengers traveled to was not the same; something was missing. One of the characters ruminates on the horrible possibility that a terrorist could drive down I-95 and shoot a grenade launcher at incoming airplanes heading to Newark Airport. Another character divulges the terrible daily experiences of being a Middle Eastern, driving her daughter to school. The terrorists that stoked fear that day had succeeded in changing the social landscape, at least for a while.
Sparks of hope started to push through fear as the ten-year anniversary of the attacked neared and a reunion was being planned at Gander. Almost all the passengers that were diverted to Gander on that fateful day were invited back to mourn what was lost but celebrate what was found: a sense of community, shared human connections, and an outpouring of generosity. The story of Gander on September 11th should be remembered not of a day of tragedy but as a day celebrating the power of human connection. I highly recommend you check out this musical, which is streaming on Apple TV+. You will be thumping your legs and kissing a codfish before you know it.
March 29
My siblings and my husband arrived at the Museum of Modern Art just after 1:30pm on an unusually balmy Saturday. We had just stepped out from a lovely brunch at 44 X Hell’s Kitchen. We had learned about The Clock exhibit from CBS Sunday Morning, a variety news program, a month ago and thought it was a unique idea. After strolling through some other art galleries, we stepped into the dark theater. It was an interesting experience, like we were walking into a movie already in progress.
Created by Christian Marclay in 2010, it is a 24-hour motion picture, encapsulating over one hundred years of cinema and television footage, which are bonded together with the depiction of various clocks. It collapses the fictional time presented on screen with the actual time of each passing minute, so all filmgoers always know the current time. It is a paradoxical feeling, for sure. According to the artist’s biography on the MoMa website, “Christian Marclay has devoted his career to exploring the processes of transformation that render the immaterial into a concrete and saleable commodity. He states, ‘I’m constantly dealing with the contradiction between the material reality of the art object as a thing and its potential immateriality’.”
Time is relative. The seasons are always changing, the flowers constantly retreating and blooming. Nature continues its relentless pursuit of change, constantly evolving. And our human tool of a clock is just one of many ways to measure the passage of time. That is what makes the brilliantly executed exhibit at the Museum of Modern Art, called The Clock, so unique. Especially as I celebrated my 34th birthday.
Our next plan, given the weather, was a long stroll to the Harry Potter NYC Store on Broadway and 22nd for a celebration Butterbeer. By the time we got there, we were dripping of sweat, as the unusually high temperatures and the tall skyscrapers around caused a dense urban heat effect. By the time we entered the air-conditioned store, ordered our Butterbeers (and some cake), and sat down, we were exhausted.
After browsing the three floors of the wonderfully decorated stop filled with tons of experiences and merchandise, we ventured to a Shake Shack across the street in the local park. By that time, the high temperatures of the day began to subside, causing the air to get chilly and the wind to pick up speed. To save time after a light dinner, my siblings and I took a Lyft back to the Marquis Theater to see the new Stranger Things Broadway play. My husband ventured in the opposite direction to catch up with an old friend that lived in Brooklyn. (He doesn’t like the horror genre)
I wrote about this exceptional play in another post, but in a word, marvelous. The play encapsulated the playfulness of school-age kids, the tense drama of deadly situations, and the otherworldly mystical elements infecting the small town of Hawkins, Indiana. Titled “The First Shadow”, it reveals more of the story of the Creel family as the son, Henry, develops unusual powers. Eventually garnering the interest of the U.S. Government. It is certainly for mature audiences, with many jump scares, horrific depictions of dead bodies, and some language. But it is a brilliant play that takes stagecraft to next levels.
The following day, we rested our legs and enjoyed tea, scones, and good conversations with August and his boyfriend, Matt, before starting the trek back to upstate New York. It was a lovely weekend full of family, friends, and great experiences. As I embark on the next year of my life, I am eternally grateful for the strength of myself, and the incredible support of everyone around me, to stay alive and work on fostering an improved and more resilient sense of self. Even overcoming the anxieties and uncertainties of running for local public office in Glens Falls.
I don’t know how this year will unravel, but I know that it will be filled with new experiences, some tough moments, many conversations, and a greater sense of community. While the political changes in the coming years may be unnerving, we all need to remain positive and learn to listen to others. The political divide has remained a constant for too long. It takes each one of us to start to break down the walls of division through kindness and empathy. We all matter.
April 6
Yesterday, I asked Michael if he would go to the prom with me, mostly in jest when I explained that we would be heading to see the Glens Falls High School musical titled “The Prom”. But that simple question has haunted me for almost twenty years because I never got the courage to go to prom, like Barry, one of the characters in the musical.
I knew I was different in high school. When my classmates talked about dating each other, I felt my painful and anxious thoughts pull my inner world in all directions. Granted, the teenage hormones could have been the culprit, but so could the relentless, “unruly heart of mine,” as the character, Emma, sings on stage.
The musical begins with a cast of characters in NYC after their new theatre show, Eleanor: The Eleanor Roosevelt Story, does poorly, causing them to feel dejected. The reviews bash the lead actors, Dee Dee Allen and Barry Glickman, for being self-absorbed narcissists. To regain their self-image, they decided to take up a “cause” to appear selfless without much effort. Scrolling Twitter, they find a story about Emma, an Indiana teenager whose prom was cancelled due to homophobia from some of the parents.
The Prom musical was first performed in Atlanta, Georgia in 2016, but it was based on a true story in Fulton, Mississippi. A student, Constance McMillen, was a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School who wanted to bring her girlfriend to prom. After being banned from the prom initially and subsequently challenging the order, the prom was entirely cancelled. However, the ACLU sued the school district to force the school to reinstate prom; but they did not realize the cruelty that the parents would inflict on Constance and her girlfriend.
Through a series of musical interludes from the cast, the ensemble from New York learns how to have a true conversation about acceptance, rebuilding from trauma, and learning to be selfless without reward. Thanks to the generous outpouring of money from Dee Dee Allen, Barry, and the other ensemble actors from New York, they put on an inclusive prom with everyone in attendance. All of the kids were able to have fun, dance, and learn to be kind to one other.
Emma’s story goes viral by the simple act of recording herself playing on the guitar, saying “We all have a story to tell, here’s mine.” And the outpouring of support from everyone telling their own story spurred a true feeling of acceptance from everyone in the community, just like Constance McMillen from Fulton, Mississippi in 2010. The Glens Falls High School cast performed this musical incredibly well, from the awe-inspiring musical numbers to the amazing stagecraft. The messages gleamed from this high school play will, hopefully, resonate with all of us. Don’t be afraid to tell your story and be kind to all.