Ten Years and Counting

Last Thursday was our tenth anniversary.

I am amazed! Valerie is my longest relationship by far - I've been with her for 12 years. We have been through a wild ten years of marriage--birth of my niece and nephews, the loss of my parents and on my side -three job changes. She has seen my highs and lows and is still here. We have faced parents getting older, changes in our health and watching kids we saw as babies grow into young adults.

I still remember our wedding day. It was windy and warm and the air felt electric. Since I lived so close to Knott's Berry Farm (we were married in the 100 year old Church inside the park), I wanted to walk from our apartment, across the street, to the wedding in my tuxedo. Valerie wouldn't hear of it and sent one of my best men and her friend to collect me. Her friend was offering me a last minute ride to the airport.

What a friend. Thanks for the offer, but I will pass.

It was a heck of a party and even today, I hear how everyone enjoyed it. My father often spoke of how it was the best wedding he had ever attended.

Last night, we celebrated at Ruth's Chris Steak House. We always enjoy ourselves there, and Saturday night was no exception -Good Steak, Good Food and a Great Time. I am so glad that Valerie and I share a love of a good steak.

Would I change some things? Of course, hindsight is always 20-20, but I also realize I am a very lucky man. Looking back, would I make the same decision and marry Valerie after all this time?

In a heartbeat..

I love you Valerie, and hope I am lucky to spend the next eighty years or ten million miles with you --whichever happens to comes first.

Visits with the Family

I received this email from my sister today:

How am I supposed to sneak in on your life to see what you're up to (like I do to Valerie) IF YOU NEVER UPDATE THE STUPID THING???? IT"S BEEN OVER A MONTH since you updated it.

Just thought I'd share...

Love,

Your Sister

(OK, I know. However, to my sister, do let your presence be known. So, Sister, I will write and you now need to let me know you were there--no more sneaking. Deal?)

Onward.

This past Thursday would have been my Dad's 75th birthday. Five years ago this month, my brother and I spread his ashes over the Pacific Ocean. We flew my Dad's old airplane and dropped him off of Solana Beach. I try to visit twice a year. I bring tea leaves--Dad used to love drinking tea. I guess it was a nod to his upbringing. He was born and raised in Ireland--hence my my name.

Yesterday, Valerie and I drove down to Solana Beach to visit Dad. She was kind enough to give me some alone time with him. It had been awhile since I visited last and I still miss him. What I have learned through all of this is to tell your family how you feel when you still can or you will have conversations like I have with my Dad.

Before my Dad died, I tried to tell him how I felt, however, he would not let me say anything because he was still fighting cancer and needed to keep his spirits up. He said to me, "You will never say everything that you want to say to your father. I went through the same thing with my Dad and to this day, I have things I wished I had said to him."

With this blog, I share my thoughts and by sharing, I examine and hope to understand them. Along this journey of life, it helps to examine the road and sometimes make course corrections. So until next time...

And yes, I will try to be a better blogger.