
Chapter three of Kate and Pete’s story is so much about that kind of celebration … and in their case it’s about the organic growth of their ever-emerging anniversary ritual, a time (spread over all of the ups and downs of their year) to re-declare their goodness and commitment to warm human connection with each other, deeply and satisfyingly in like and love with each other and the lives they are constructing. So, if that’s Valentine’s day for you, have at it. And if it’s a random Wednesday in October – even better. And again on a mundane Monday in March, go for it. For Kate and Pete, it begins in late summer and stretches well into their anniversary, and beyond.
Maybe Kate and Pete Chapter Three will get you thinking about how you, too, can continue to shape your life into one that is, well, perfectly and always wonderfully under-construction (aka, inspire you to make your relationship something you, TOO, would be willing to blog about!).
Anniversary Ritual: Forever (Perfectly) Under Construction
By Kate Woodman Middlecamp

But as it tends to do, life got busy and complicated, and in the months leading up to our second anniversary, we found that we – and the suite – would be otherwise occupied on Sept 20th. Initially disappointed, we realized that what we really loved about idea of annually returning to the Covington was simply that it was our ritual, and that the possibilities of other such loving, lovely, romantic and ridiculously “us” rituals were endless. So we opened our hearts and minds, bought a bottle of scotch, and waited for anniversary inspiration to hit.
And hit it did, in late August – my birthday, in fact – which happens to fall almost exactly a month before our anniversary. Peter and I were at the Mall of America enjoying a few roller coaster rides and skee-ball, and while breaking for lunch we happened to walk into a little inexpensive jewelry store. Drawn to the stainless steel rings, we tried on some matching sets for fun and a few very inspired moments later, we walked out with our original wedding rings in boxes, sparkly new rings on our fingers and huge grins on our faces.
It was a simple thing at the time, a spontaneous and giddy act of love. But as we neared our anniversary, we realized that the new rings were also a perfect addition to the ritual anniversary celebration of “us” that had begun at the Covington. Not a night on a tugboat, but still so very, perfectly, Kate and Pete.
And so our unique and ever-changing anniversary ritual was born. In the months leading up to our September anniversary, we research and discuss the traditional and modern gifts for the year, decide what is most “us” and if or how it might relate to a new ring or a similarly fabulous – often simple – symbol of our love.



As in the beginning, it is now our ritual to acquire, or plan to create, the new rings, and decide what the anniversary theme will be as part of my August birthday celebration. It is, essentially, our opportunity to say “we choose each other again!” Every year, then, when the special day does arrive – a month later – we are totally free to celebrate who we are now and who we have been. We are free, each time, to rejoice in our unique two-ness. And, most importantly, we are ready to toast who we hope to be in the next year – whatever that might bring – together.