Heard It Through the Grapevine

If you were hiding under a rock this past weekend, or perhaps you didn't check your Facebook accout, you may not have seen my husband's tweet.

Did you get that? Yes, I said my "husband." Because as of Thursday, I do legally have one. It's a new development. I'm still getting used to it.

In case you don't already know the story, or were confounded by cryptic Facebook status messages, here it is:

RM and I were married by Chief Judge Jonathan Lippman of the New York State Court of Appeals, in the beautiful and historic COA building in downtown Albany on a sunny Thursday afternoon. The ceremony was private, with only our immediate family in attendence. It was short yet very meaningful. The bride wore royal blue and the groom wore his favorite $10 sport coat.

Now, I had intended for this information to stay relatively private--I was afraid that widespread knowledge of this fact would subconsciously cheapen the ceremony and exchange of vows we hope to conduct in front of our larger circle of family and friends next year. (I was also half-afraid people would think "shotgun," and shake their heads with a series of tsks.)

I was a little naive to believe that this could be contained. I am, after all, a member of the press.

The day after the ceremony, RM and I were driving out to Cooperstown, where we were to enjoy a lovely mini-honeymoon, when he casually revealed that he'd tweeted the news of our nuptials. Only when I was able to regain control of the car after swerving off a country road in the Central Leatherstocking region, was I able to comprehend the magnitude of what just happened.

Between the two of us, we have thousands of Facebook friends and Twitter followers, most of whom instantly read the status message, and many of whom started to issue confused public congratulations. Next came the barrage of voicemails and text messages. And one slightly agitated call from my parents (aka my publicists) asking what the heck they should say to the people calling the house wondering about the news. Once it has leaked to the press, there is no covering it up...

But like most leaks, a statement is made in the aftermath to clear up any misinformation. So here is my statement:

We decided to get the legal stuff out of the way for one of two reasons: (neither of which is that I am pregnant, so cross that off your list) First, we needed to get Rick on my health insurance plan, because his job will not afford him such a luxury (sad, right?). We also wanted to begin our financial lives together, and get a head start on all matters tax-related. Secondly, we wanted the freedom to do as we please at the wedding we are planning for next year.

Because by gum, there will still be a WEDDING. Replete with walking down the aisle, vows, ring exchanges, champagne and cake. Oh yes, CAKE. Details are TK and close at hand, so please stand by to mark your calendars!

So there you go.