Two Words and Twenty-Nine Years Later

First, a very happy Father's Day to my fellow Dads everywhere, including my father-in-law, my brothers, my brothers-in-law, my son, and my son-in-law.  A damn good group and one in which I am happy to call myself a member. 

It was twenty-nine years ago today that I became a father.  At shortly after 12 noon, the late, great Judge Raymond DeMarco married Margaret and me.  By uttering just two words, "I do", I went from being single to being a husband and father of two.  If memory serves, Rob was seven and Suzanne was eight.  I have never - and shall never - refer to either of them as my "stepchildren".   Doing so would - to me at least - imply or otherwise suggest that I feel some lesser bond to either of them than I would if they shared even a little of my DNA. To the contrary, I am thrilled for both that they do not and am proud of the life each is making with their families.  Margaret and I have the five most spectacular grandchildren for whom any grandparent could ever hope.  

My wife is an extraordinary woman.  One of the great mysteries of my life is what Margaret sees looking at her husband that ever made her say, "I choose you" and has yet to make her say, "Here, let me smother you with this pillow."  I am not an easy man with whom to live.  She somehow manages to make it seem much easier than it is.  For that, I thank her.  

I thank her more for her decision - three-plus decades ago - to allow me into her life.  I have little doubt that had she and I not become, well, she and I that she would be doing quite well for herself, thank you very much.  I, on the other hand, would not.  I never realized that I was desirous of having an actual, full life until I met my wife.  Before Margaret, I could not have imagined spending my life with another person.  Now?  I recoil in fear at the thought of ever living a day of my life without her - and not just because I have no idea what bank it is in which we have our money or what the password is for our Amazon Prime account.   

Brian Wilson expressed it better than I ever could.  What would I be without her? 

-AK