Thirty years ago today, March 13, 1977: I made the decision to marry the young woman known to my blog friends as Smiley. I was late for work that night. The next day we bought rings.

Eighteen years ago today, March 13, 1989: My father died in a hospital in Yuma, Arizona, of complications from a gall bladder infection. He was 81 years old. I arrived in Yuma a few hours later to be with Mom. One of my brothers had already been there, and another arrived shortly.

Today:
My life is good. My children have grown up, and I’ve never regretted that decision thirty years ago. I’m still late for things sometimes. Mom will be 95 years old in the middle of next month.