Rant #1,687: Happy Anniversary, Baby

What were you doing 23 years ago today?

It was a pretty nondescript day in history.

I think it is the 158th day of the year, and it is toward the end of spring leading into summer.

I checked "Today in History" and found that way back in 1993, Mongolia held its first general election on this day.

Nobody significant was born on this day in 1993, and nobody of significance died, either.

But something significant did happen on this day, at least to me.

Today, on this date, my wife and I were married, and now, we celebrate our 23rd wedding anniversary.

I have gone over this story many, many times, but for those who aren't familiar with it, it really is a nice story, showing that one should never give up on oneself, ever.

I was going through a rough divorce, and was working as a real estate writer for a weekly publication.

I had put into a dating service--remember those?--because after some time, I really was getting a bit lonely.

I dated a few ladies through that service, but it was only until they put it to me point blank--what type of girl do you really want?--that I found the girl of my dreams.

She said she looked something like Adrienne Barbeau--through and through--and I was hooked right then and there.

I met her just a few days after I lost my real estate writing job, a victim of the downturn that the real estate market took in the early 1990s.

And although it took a while for me to see it, after a few dates I knew that this was the girl I was going to marry.

She stuck by me through thick and thin, and during those days, there was a lot of thin.

I got divorced, I got a new job after being out of work for about 18 months, and finally, on this day in 1993, we we became husband and wife.

And we have never looked back, I am happy to say.

She is the greatest person that I know. She balances her job and our house and being a mother and a wife with a lot of panache.

It isn't easy, but she manages to do it.

And she is the best wife a guy could ever have.

Whenever I think of who I am married to, I feel that I am the luckiest guy on the face of the earth (sorry, Lou Gehrig).

After so much bad luck back in those days, I hit a real home run with this girl, I really did.

She gave me a son, a great boy who is finally finding his way in life, and she is as good with my daughter from my first marriage as she could possibly be.

My wife really is the bellwether of our little family, and just thinking about her makes me smile.

So on this momentous day, it really is just another day for the two of us.

I work early, she works late, and the twain will barely meet tonight.

But for however long, we will exchange our cards, give ourselves a big kiss, and look forward to the weekend, when we can celebrate by going out to dinner.

Yes, this date continues to be a bit nondescript, but I guess that is the way it should be.

Happy Anniversary, Elena, I love you so, and always will.