There are lots of dates that are important to me.

Of course, there’s the obvious ones.

October 1, my wedding anniversary.

July 30, Deb’s birthday.

April 6, Caileigh’s birthday.

November 23, Keaton’s birthday.

February 1, Tara’s birthday.

And the birthdays and anniversaries of other family and friends.

But there’s also October 17.

It’s a weird anniversary and I only celebrate it myself.

Thirty-six years ago, Deb and I were on a date.

I don’t remember exactly what we were doing that night. We were probably at the Laurier. The pub near the National Theatre School that we would hang out at with my classmates.

And we were walking to my home. It was late.

The buses had stopped by that time.

We chatted along the way. And stopped to smooch a bit.

It was that date when I felt like our relationship was significant.

I was all in.

I don’t know what triggered it. It was a sudden realization.

It took Deb a little while longer to reach that point.

Okay, a few months later…!

Which is why the date is significant for me. And probably not as significant for her.

I don’t do anything big to celebrate. I feel grateful and acknowledge how lucky I am to have met Miss Deb Dagenais.

I remember how grateful I am to share my life with her.

Happy October Seventeenth!