Could Have Made Money On That Bet

13 years ago today, 5 good friends, and I played golf at the Louie Prima golf course in Slidell Louisiana. Some of us played with a bit of a hangover from a few too many drinks in the French Quarter. It should be pointed out here that these few drinks had been consumed over a period of 5 days.
We also had breakfast at the Waffle House and booked rooms at the Holiday Inn in Covington Louisiana. Later that day, a bunch of us watched the much-anticipated USC and Notre Dame game. I don’t recall who won.
Later that afternoon my friend Jeff and I watched The Last of The Mohicans, and we discussed the course of life and the many changes it can bring. I recall that conversation very well. Jeff had seen me go through many changes, well before we became friends. I am glad we ended up being friends.

The mob and I made our way to Slidell United Methodist for the evening’s commitment.
We were ushered off to a room in the sanctuary where we consumed a bottle of Canadian whiskey and got dressed in semi matching suits. I say semi because my buddy Don split the pants of his tux and we scrambled to finding a pair of pants that would match. Out came the pair of black golfing pants from the round we had played in the morning. Close enough we decided.

We waited for our cue and joked about a ton of stuff, mostly it had to do with the fact that no one would have ever imagined ourselves in this place for this very occasion.

As I stood at the front of the Church I vaguely heard the music and looked in awe at the beautiful young woman and her father who were walking slowly toward me.

13 years ago today I married my best friend. And to those of you who were there, we both say thanks for believing in us

A lot has changed since then. We have all watched these and many of us have been there for each other as friends through it all. Our beautiful friend Laura, who was in charge of getting people to just sign the guest book, lost her battle with cancer last year. We miss her a lot. Katrina destroyed the town we partied in and the church we were married in. We have never had the courage to go back and look at what remains.

So today I am pleased to announce that my Seahawks won and my bride’s beloved Patriots lost. For our anniversary my wife bought me a statue of a penguin sitting in a beach chair just chilling, I got her and autographed baseball signed by Curt Schilling.

Many folks said we were far too different to ever marry, let alone date, they were right. Glad we looked beyond the differences.