I have joked more than once that I outkicked my coverage with Dawne, and this photograph makes the case better than I ever could.
We were dressed for a formal evening, standing beneath the warm light of crystal chandeliers, and somehow she still managed to make everything around her look secondary. Dawne has that kind of presence. She can walk into an elegant room without needing the room to announce her.
I am standing beside her in a black suit trying to look like I belong there, while she looks completely at ease. That contrast makes me smile because it says something familiar about us. I have always felt fortunate to be the man standing next to her.
There are photographs that document an event, and then there are photographs that preserve how you felt in the moment. This one does both. It reminds me of the pride, affection, and quiet disbelief I have always carried with me when it comes to Dawne.
So yes, I outkicked my coverage. By a lot.