9yrs in tha game...

September 23, 2000

Nine years ago

I stepped into it.

Tied the knot that day. And now I'm here reflecting. A few things that stand out from that day.

#1. When I woke up that morning, the skies opened up and it was raining hard. It was raining so hard that I couldn't see past the hood of my car as I drove around. I thought to myself...I wonder if this is a sign that I ain't supposed to get married. The wedding didn't start until 5pm. It's funny because the weather went from a monsoon and it immediately cleared up. By the time the wedding started, there wasn't a cloud in the sky. Much like that day, in marriage you'll endure storms. No storms...no matter how bad they seem...last for ever. You've gotta marry somebody who is willing to weather the storm with you.

#2. My brother was my best man. I wasn't sure if he was even gonna make it to my wedding. My neice, Taylor, was born the day prior to our wedding. My brother was at the hospital with her and he was about 2.5 hours away. He kept asking me if I wanted him to come that day but I told him that he needed to be there with his daughter. Well, on his way to my wedding he got lost. I had to direct him there. He showed up...fifteen minutes before the wedding was set to start. I was glad to see him. I dunno if I would have let the wedding start without him.

#3. Cru Love. I felt extremely blessed to have my cousins (Eric, Mike, Marc) and my new brother-in-law (Michael) as my groomsmen. I was just as happy to have my crew (JFresh, Moe, D, Russ, Zell) as my groomsmen as well. There is something to be said for having the dudes who were down since day 1, stand at the altar with you. For much of my life, it was all about the crew. These dudes watched me grow from a boy to a man. For them to be there to share in the moment was special

#4. My Wife. When she walked into the back of the church, my mouth dropped. I had never seen her that radiant. All I could do was smile. The wedding went well (except for the preacher messing up once or 4 times). I married my best friend. She has helped make me a better man. I have to tip my hat to her b/c I'm not the easiest dude to deal with. LOL. But she's hung in there and we've made it this far.

People often ask me how do you make marriage work?

My response...day by day. That's it. Marriage is work. Hard work. Constant work. It's work when you don't wanna feel like working. If anybody tells you that they have a perfect marriage, they are lying. There's no such thing b/c people aren't perfect. If you don't have perfect people, you can't have a perfect marriage. Marriage is what you make it. It truly is. These last 9 yrs have been the best. I wouldn't trade it for anything. There have been bumps in the road...but there will never be a smooth ride. When times got tough, you want to look and make sure that she has your back as you prepare to fight the world. And she has done that. No matter what. I've done that for her. Like in any relationship, there are moments where I piss her off (i know that's hard to believe) but we've made a committment to each other. We're down for each other. Forever.

I remember several female friends in high school telling me...You're gonna make some young lady very happy one day.

I think i have.

Happy Anniversary, baby

I love you.