Year One

Don’t be fooled by the title, this is not a movie review on the sub-par Caveman comedy starring two of my favorite clowns; Michael Cera and Jack Black. Actually, a reader recently told me that she enjoyed my blogs but that she thought that an occasional blog for the women in the audience might be nice… I can do that.

As I am approaching my 1-year anniversary with my wife, I figured that’s right in the women’s ballpark for material. By the way, subject matter be damned, sports analogies will always be used in this blog.

I’m approaching my 1-year anniversary and frankly it was a great inaugural season. I met my wife in 2002 at a friend’s party. Although I was spoken for at the time, the spark was instantaneous. We became friends and maintained contact off and on for years to come but it was always that son of a bitch Grandfather Timing getting in our way. She was spoken for or I was spoken for… It was ridiculous.

Regardless how much time had passed in between visits, every time we met, the spark was immediately re-ignited. It’s an odd feeling to look back on your past and realize you subconsciously knew exactly what you were doing the whole time. It’s actually pretty relieving to know the ball can roll your way from time to time.

Years passed, Key Lime Pie martinis were consumed, she lost many games of pool to me at the bar… But no matter how good things were each meet; there was always something in the way. It was always just a visit. But regardless of how little of progress it looked like we were making, I remained patient and persistent.

In 2007 Devon’s birthday came and I hadn’t spoken to her in a while, so I pulled a couple Jason Bourne-like moves and got my hands on her work address and building number. I sent her a bouquet of flowers that was reminiscent of the aforementioned Key Lime Pie Martini we loved so much and like a guy on Wall Street with some insider knowledge, we cashed out all the stocks in our current portfolios and got involved in a new joint venture. We were finally a couple.

As far as I was concerned, I was a damn millionaire.

When we first started dating it was great because there was none of that “do I fully trust this person” feeling you can have from dating a person you randomly met at a bar. It was quickly evident to us both that we wore the universe down and it couldn’t fight the attraction anymore.

We got married about 26 months after we started dating and HOLY SHIT did we have a nice wedding. You know how in the movies, weddings are incredibly over the top? Yeah, our wedding topped that. Our parents provided us a day I will never forget for the rest of my life. It blows my mind to think how fortunate we were to celebrate the wedding the way we did. So again, I thank everyone that had a hand in bringing that day to us.
Since being married we have taken this whole grown-up routine head on. We own a house, we have a dog, we’ve knocked out a ton of debt, we’re both doing well at work and we’re contemplating a family. Things are moving right along.

We obviously have had our disagreements and like everyone, there is the occasional night where we prefer the other remain silent… But all in all, I wouldn’t rather argue with anyone else. My wife and I are only a year deep in a lifelong journey but it seems like no matter the problem, we can eventually discuss it openly and get it ironed out.

Not everyone even has the capability to be able to do that.

I personally know of a couple people that see a problem, assume it’s detrimental and melt down. The minute that communication dies, the stress begins. It took me just about 25 years to understand how important honesty and accountability are to a relationship. It’s also rather interesting to me that these realizations came the instant I met a person I truly wanted to be happy.

If she told me I literally had to eat dog shit to ensure her health, I’d just make sure Dakota was eating a sweet diet.

I’m not ignorant though. Part of knowing your intelligence is knowing the extent of your ignorance. I know time will bring obstacles, life will throw us curve balls… But at the end of the day, if I’m with her, we’ll get through it. That woman is amazing.

Forget the fact that she keeps the house clean, laughs at my jokes and puts up with my 3rd grade intellect, this woman is incredibly supportive. I recently shifted gears in my realm of creativity and whether it’s about my comedy or my writing, she’s always pushing me to do more and do better. She isn’t a spectator when it comes to this stuff; she’s on the team. I’m very lucky for that.

So we’re almost to a year and we haven’t hit enough bumps in the road to start drawing the map for people of the future, but just like the first time we met, looking at each other you just know that those bumps are just opportunities to become better.

So Devon, if there are future pieces released and you find your character to be held in a less than favorable light, please refer to this blog. I think you’re neat.

By the way, the one year anniversary is the “paper” anniversary right? So if I just printed this blog could I give it to her? Or would a pair of Seahawks tickets work? They’re printed on paper. I know she really enjoys the Kleenex with aloe? I guess I’ll have to think more on this, but those sound like three solid ideas. Anyway--- 1 year almost down. 60 to go. (88 is a reasonable age for me to kick the bucket, yeah?)

**STAY TUNED FOR SCENES FROM NEXT WEEKS “THE YOUNG AND THE RESTLESS”**