The Right Woman for the Job

I'll bet you thought this was going to be another column about Hilary Clinton. Not today, although I am sure I will write more about the woman that I am hoping becomes our nation's 44th president. No, today I am writing about the woman who has taken on a job that is arguably as tough as being president, and certainly more important, at least to me and my family. I'm talking about the love of my life, my partner in crime, and the one person in the world that I admire, respect, and love more than any other. My wonderful wife of 14 years, Julie Nicholas.

Today is our 14th wedding anniversary, and that sunny afternoon in Las Vegas 14 years ago, with my bride by my side and my parents there to share in the occasion, ranks as one of the three best days of my life, right along with the days that my son and my daughter were born. That is a top three that will never be cracked. Like all couples, we have had our ups and downs, our share of challenges to overcome, but mostly we have had a wonderful shared experience of being in love and of raising our children and of going through this crazy world together.

My wife is beautiful, smart, charming, funny, witty, and quite simply is the best person I know. The Jack Nicholson line from "As Good As it Gets" comes to mind, because she does make me want to be a better man, and anyone who knows me can attest that there is plenty of room for me in that regard. She is an incredible mom, and having one myself I know a thing or two about the subject. She is devoted to our kids and to our family, is giving without end or condition of her time and energies and love to her family. She is the type of person that other people love to be around, she can make an old man feel young again just with her smile, and she can make a young man wish he was older so that he could have a woman like her. She is a great friend to those she has known for a long time and she is a wonderful daughter and sister.

Most of all, she is the one person that I hope to grow old with, assuming that she can keep putting up with me and my various moods and eccentricities. I believe that a marriage license is just a piece of paper, that what matters is the relationship that two people have and continue to develop over time. I believe that love can, and should be hard work at times, because nothing worthwhile in life ever comes easy, but I also believe that love is natural, that it is either there or it's not, and if it is there then you'd better recognize it and cherish it and do everything in your power to nourish it and help it grow. I believe that we choose each other every day and that nothing should ever be taken for granted. I believe that if we have found someone in this life whom we love, cherish, admire, and want to be with, every day for the rest of our days, then we are truly blessed. Nothing else compares, with the sole exception of the unconditional love you have for your children.

Happy Anniversary Jules, I love you more today than yesterday, with all my heart and all my soul, and if you'll continue to choose me, I'll be there for the rest of our days, trying to become a better man and trying to be worthy of the love of the prettiest girl in the room, the best friend a guy could ever ask for, and the love of my life.