[caption id="attachment_77" align="alignright" width="300" caption="Nicole and Virgile"]<img class="size-medium wp-image-77" src="http://mikerappaport.net/onevoice/wp-content/uploads/2009/11/Vacation-2005-055-300x225.jpg" alt="Nicole and Virgile" width="300" height="225" />[/caption]

It's November 2nd, which means there is only one subject about which I would even consider writing.

Today is my wedding anniversary.

It was 17 years ago today that I stood in front of a justice of the peace in the Los Angeles County Courthouse and said those two incredible words for the second time in my life.

<em>"I'm sorry."</em>

Oops, those are the two words I have said hundreds of times since then, trying to make up for all the times I have been a less than perfect husband, father or person.

<em>"I do."</em>

Those are the two words. I said them once before in April of 1975, and I did until she didn't, which was less than five years. That made this the second time around for me, and I managed to snag a wonderful package deal -- an incredible wife and two of the best children in the world.

For the last 17 years, they have filled my life with joy, more joy than I would ever have dreamed possible. Studies show that married men live longer than single ones -- I've heard the joke that it only seems longer -- and I certainly understand why. I honestly think most of us are happier when we have other people that we care about and who care about us in return.

There's nothing sadder than an old man or woman, left all alone in the world with no one to care if they live or die. I feel blessed that God willing, that will never happen to me.

When Nicole and I were first married, after knowing each other for only 51 days, we decided that our song would be Elvis Presley's "Can't Help Falling in Love." More recently, Nicole has made a favorite of the old song, "I Only Want to be With You." It's nice, but there is really only one song lodged deeply in my heart that says what Nicole means to me, and that's John Denver and Placido Domingo's "Perhaps Love."

<em>"... if I should live forever and all my dreams come true, my memory of love will be of you."</em>

Seventeen wonderful years.

I wish it could be 170.