As of February 2, 2025, my wife and I have been married for 23 years. I can’t even believe it, as I am sure there are many of you as well. We have been together for a total of 25 years. It was like it was yesterday when we met. I even remember our first Valentine’s together after we got married. In our local small town we had a “Department Store” of sorts, a place where you could go and get multiple items at once. Electronics, clothing, books, lightbulbs, as well as other things, it’s name was Shopko. Back then I was not use to small-town-living as I had grown up in the suburbs of Minneapolis, then to Orlando, and I was not use to small town “hours,” ie. the “town rolled up and went to bed after 6pm on Sundays.” I quickly learned the term, “Just grab something from Shopko.” It was in the jewelry section that I found my new wife’s first Valentine’s Day gift.
I have always been blessed with the fact that 1) I chose our wedding date, February 2, 2002, 02/02/02 and 2) The date of our wedding anniversary comes in succession in a six week holiday “Trifecta.” Our Anniversary, Valentines Day and finally Shannon’s Birthday, March 1st. Now some of you may criticize my choice but I thought I was incredibly insightful on the choice. You see, I have watched men my entire life sweat the coming of those three days simply with the statement of “What am I going to do for her?!” There is no way of getting out of those three days, unless you’re clever … like me.
Back at Shopko, Shannon had asked me to pick something up and as I started into the store I came across the jewelry section and what do I find but a gold heart shaped necklace with THREE, count them THREE diamond shavings on it! Perfect! One small stone for each of the special days, I can’t lose! I’ll be the hero! I thought to myself. “Honey! Look at this, I was clever AND thrifty!” I’ll write a book! I’ll be invited on talk shows! I can’t believe my luck! I got this marriage ”thing” in the bag!
Pleased with myself, I got home as quick as I could and wrapped the gift. I was thinking when I should give this box to her on the first day, our Wedding Anniversary or should I take my chances and wait until the last, her Birthday? I didn’t want it to look like I just forgot the other two dates so, after doing the “man-math,” I settled on giving it to her on the first holiday, our anniversary.
The day arrived and I presented her with this small token of love and affection of which I am now FREE AND CLEAR for the rest of the year of any gift buying responsibilities. She unwrapped it … and loved it. I know it because I saw the look flash across her face.
It was at that moment that I decided to let her in on the plan, my stroke of genius. With certainty in my voice I told her that this was “this year’s” gift and I was free and clear for the rest of the year. I then explained my thinking behind the three of our holidays and the correlation between them and the three diamonds.
The response was stern, “I don’t think so.”
And we have been celebrating it her way ever since.
For those of you gentlemen just tuning in now, after 23 years of marriage here is my advice for you … there is no getting around it, you must think and plan for these days accordingly. There is NO fast or quick way out of it. Write it down on your calendar, punch it into your phone, get it tattooed somewhere. Till death do you part … which might be sooner for some of you if you forget your anniversary.
(A note from the Editor, Shannon: Both necklace and relationship are still intact … although the same cannot be said about my husband, the Author!)
Nice cartoons Mr. G! Happy Anniversary … Love you!