I’m looking forward to a good time in the Windy City today and Thursday. This will be my very first time at a brewers conference. I’m not really sure what to expect, but I know that I will have a great time and I’ll learn a lot! I’ll see several brewers from Michigan whom I already know (some very well), and I look forward to meeting several others from outside my home state. Unfortunately, I have a seminar in Grand Rapids that I must attend Friday morning and that puts a kink in my plans, but the two days here will be better than none! Before you read any farther, let me warn you, the rest of this blog will not be focusing on craft beer!
I know that I have used this blog to thank Al (our Webmaster) and Niko (our Art Director) for the countless hours they have suffered with me these past two years. However, I also want to thank my wife, Dawn, for her support. She’s stood by me while we work getting this Craft Beer Locator thing rolling. Without her patience, understanding, flexibility and . . . just putting up with my crap . . . there is no way this project would stand a chance of success. (I also want to thank Mary [Al’s wife] and Amber [Niko’s wife and my first-born] . . . this has been one unbelievable team effort!!!)
Where am I going with this? Well, 31 years ago tomorrow marks the day I said “I do” to Dawn and have never regretted it. Before you do the math to determine my age, let me tell you I was 12 when I got married. Okay, not really! I’m from Michigan, not Arkansas. However the first time I saw Dawn, I was either 10 or 11 years old. While I don’t remember the exact date or my age at the time, I’ll never forget that moment! It was in the kitchen at my parents house. She was so pretty I had to run up to the bathroom and comb my hair. WOW!!! It’s funny . . . after 40 years she still makes me feel that way!
For the past 30 years we have spent every April 8th together, doing something special. This year will be different. This year, her gift to me me was allowing me to spend this night apart from here for the first time since 1979. I don’t care how much I will learn or how much fun I will have, this April 8th will not be the same. Sure, we have plans for Friday evening, but that’s April 9th! We have never made a big deal about celebrations on certain days of the year, but since 1979, April 8 has always been special. This union has given us two beautiful daughters and one unbelievable son-in-law who takes amazing care of my first-born daughter.
Business takes many of us away from our loved ones. Personally, I have never gotten used to being away from home, or at least away from Dawn. I don’t sleep well (if at all) and I’m just not myself. I think that when someone looks forward to going out of town without their mate, that’s a sign that the relationship may need some work. I also know that the return trip home feels better as the miles peel off behind me and the sites from my windshield start looking more familiar.
When I pull into the driveway, I love when Dawn opens the front door of our house for me even before I get out of my car. I love the fact that Roxy (our dog) is running as fast as she can to come greet me. I love the fact that 11,322 days ago this punk 20-year-old convinced a beautiful woman to commit to spending the rest of her life with him . . . “for better or worse.” Wow!!! I sure got the better half of this deal! It continues to get “better” and there has been no “worse.”
Thank you Dawn. I love you more!