[Magdalen] Update from Rick

[Rick Mashburn]

In light of all the recent events, I thought it was high time that I
finally sent an update to the list on what's been up with me lately.

I AM MARRIED! Yes, Cupid's arrow finally found even me. (This isn't news to
those of you on Facebook but I haven't mentioned anything here yet. No one
has heard the details.)

His name is Alejandro and goes by Alex. We met in July of 2013. He's from
Mexico and he was here in San Antonio for summer vacation with his family.
They have a house here and have been spending holidays here for more than
20 years. It was a long distance romance for quite a while but he moved
here in September of 2014 to get certified to teach in Texas. (He was a
high school teacher previously.) He met my family at Thanksgiving and
despite some anxiety for all us it went really well. Even my 74 year old,
lifelong Baptist, Republican sister thought he was awesome!

In April, he got a job offer from a large Episcopal school here in SA and
will start his American teaching career there in August. He will be
teaching Spanish. The leadership team at the school knows about our
marriage and were happy for us.

We got engaged in February. We were married in a small ceremony at the B&B
where we were staying in Santa Fe, NM in May. It was a lovely, "spiritual"
service that was just what we wanted. It was just the two of us and we had
other guests of the Inn as our witnesses. We both LOVED Santa Fe and look
forward to returning.

Our church service is scheduled to take place at St. Paul's in November. So
far, it's a "Celebration of a Lifelong Commitment" which is all that is
currently approved by our Bishop. I'm hoping it will be a marriage ceremony
by the time the dust settles this fall. We'll see.

I feel incredibly blessed to have finally found a best friend, soul mate
and husband. He makes me very happy. We've had all the standard struggles
of learning how to live together, argue fairly, blend households, etc. So
far, I think we're pretty normal. Above all, I've never met someone who was
so compatible with me and with whom I have such fun. In spite of our age
difference, he's 29 and I'm 55, our relationship just works!

We're going to have our next test on Sunday. His parents are here from
Guadalajara and we're having lunch together for the first time. I'm meeting
the in-laws!!! I think it's all going to go well. They are lovely people
and are working hard to understand this new part of their son's life. (He
only came out to them in March.) We are looking forward to it...but we're
also both a little nervous. I'm sure they are as well!

I was beginning to think that this particular blessing was never going to
happen to me. But, now that it has, I'm so grateful. I'm finally going to
have the large family I've always wanted. He has three siblings and lots
and lots of aunts, uncles and cousins. Now I've got to work harder on my
Spanish! ;-)

Peace and love to all,

Rick
San Antonio

P.S. Yes, Malcolm approves and they are bonding more and more every day!