It's official. The vows have been made. The rings placed. The papers signed. The marriage consummated. Everything is the same, only different.

I was in the supermarket yesterday buying Mother's Day roses for Maria. The lady in front of me turned and asked if they were for Mom. I said 'Yeah, kinda, they're for my wife, and she's Mama.'

That was the first time I called Maria my wife in a casual conversation. She's now my wife. She used to be my fiancee. Before that, she was my girlfriend. I didn't know her before that. Hopefully, her current label will be her last.

Maria is now a Jungle just like her husband and daughter.

Then, there's the ring. I hadn't worn a ring since I was ten years old, and those had pictures of Yoda and other little monsters on them. I don't really accessorize at all. No necklaces, no earrings, no piercings, no tattoos and no rings. Now I have a ring. It's titanium. Nondescript & lightweight. Not really an important piece of jewelry. Except that it's my only piece of jewelry. And it's on the left finger of my left hand. One little ring can mean so much.

More than one hundred people took the time to watch us get married and celebrate afterwards. They were generous with their time, well wishes, assistance, gifts and pocketbooks. It was overwhelming to have it all come at one time. I know it won't happen again, and it was all appreciated.

Then, came the honeymoon in Santa Cruz. Take a plane to San Jose, hop in a rental car, take Highway 17 South for 35 miles, this turns into Mission St., take that to Bay Street all the way to the end, and you're there at the quirky little beach. We swam in the chilly ocean, floated in the nearby pool, and boiled in the whirlpool. There was the wharf & the boardwalk & the arcade & the red woods & downtown & the winery & Capitola nearby. We dated every day, and the marriage was consummated a few times. The four days plus honeymoon was the longest we'd ever been away from our daughter.

So we had to come back. Little Donna Rose was super-dooper happy to see us, and we were equally super-dooper happy to see her. Of course, then came yesterday where the child ran us around until we were thoroughly exhausted, just like she did before we left. Everything is the same, only different.

I can't tell you exactly what the difference is because I'm new to this officially married thing. It's probably better to say too little rather than too much on the subject. I'm libel to jinx the stuff I have going for me at the moment. I still have to go to work tomorrow and make a living, and my wife still has to take care of my daughter and the home while I'm gone. Everything is the same, except we're married.

Chris Jungle is still recovering from the honeymoon.