I moved to Bainbridge Island in Washington in the summer of 2000 and have been enjoying my time here ever since.  I am in the privileged position of coaching football (soccer) and spending my time having a job that is really my life passion.

Over the years I have done so much to make this part of my life to be able to make it work.  I have moved house more than a dozen times, moved my possessions into storage again and gain, and had to miss segments of my soccer seasons that I would have much preferred not to.  Of course over all those years people have “frequently” said to me ‘why don’t you just get married’.  Of course life is not as simple as that.  Finding a partner, finding a wife, is not an easy adventure.

In March 2014 I met Elizabeth via and ex-player of mine, and this Liverpool soccer fan captured my heart.  I am not sure how, not sure why… but our thoughts, humour just seemed to click.  It is kind of a bit cliche, but it all fell in to place just how I would wish.  This Bainbridge Island girl captured my heart.

I wrote this poem 9-10 months ago as we forged our way into our relationship…

Being with you makes life easy,
Being with you makes days please me,
Being with you expands my heart,
Being with you means there so much left to change,
And many dreams to be made.

Being with you shows me who I am,
Being with you makes me a better man,
Being with you takes worries away,
Being with you brightens when you stay.

Being with you lays one brick at a time
Being with you makes morning sun shine,
Being with you makes winters seem warm
Being with you imprints on my thoughts,
Knowing how you subtlety do, and subtlety don’t

Being with you pushes problems aside,
Being with you means I always confide,
Being with you says I can always see your smile, even in the dark.
Being with you helps me always know.

Being with you means I’m closer to the stars
And that love is whispering your name.

On Friday September 18th we got married.  Our relationship was ready for it, and I was ready for it.  Of course that does not mean that there were not some shaky Avison moments in my mind, thoughts as the day drew closer.  We got the wedding ring from New York, and that was cutting it close to arriving in time, but it did.

The Friday afternoon started with a ferry trip to the Seattle courthouse for a late Friday wedding with judge Kimi Kondo.  After the ceremony, I do’s and the marriage licensing signing we headed over to Palisade on the water in Magnolia, Seattle, for pre-dinner drinks and photo ops.  Afterwards dinner was thoroughly enjoyed at the wonderful Edgewater Hotel – just fabulous at their Restaurant 67.  Before heading home via the ferry we decided to have another fun side jaunt to the Seattle Space Needle – it was great to see this Seattle icon to have in our wedding day photo album !!

A special day in a special way, just as me and Elizabeth would wish 🙂