It was a mixture of nervousness and excitement, anticipation and relief. I had no vision of children, a career or a business at that time. Somehow I was solely focused on one beautiful redheaded 16 year old girl. Nothing else in the world mattered as a 16 year old boy.

That night was awkward. We talked some, but I think we mostly watched TV. A VHS copy of Disney’s A Little Mermaid.

Another redhead seeking her prince.

I can’t remember a lot more about that night. It started when she picked me up in her ~1980 tan/beige Toyota Celica (I didn’t have my license yet). It ended with a ride home. No kiss…it was the first date. She was a good girl, and I was a gentleman.

Somehow I did well enough to warrant another date a week later (and a first kiss), then a trip to the Junior-Senior prom a few weeks later.

Nearly two years passed before I lost her. Nearly four passed before I found her again. That’s another story for another day.

Something started twenty years ago today…my first date.

My first kiss.

My first love.

My first (and only) wife.

Two wonderful children, countless pets and almost 14 years of marriage.

It all can trace back to an April night 20 years ago. I wish I could remember it better. But it doesn’t matter. I have the last 20 years worth of memories to know that something special happened that night.

And I’ve never worried about a broken mirror, walking under a ladder or a Friday the 13th since.