Anyone who has met me in person knows that I wear a penny around my neck, with the Chinese symbol for “prosperity” on it. I recieved the penny as a gift from my mother several years ago – it meant so much to me that I got it altered so I could wear it around my neck.

I’ve worn this penny ever since, except for one notable period of time when I was coinless. But more on that later.

Today my wife and I are celebrating one year of marriage.

Reading my blog might give you the impression that I think I am the single greatest human being in North American history, but that is definitely untrue – if anyone can claim that title, it is my wife.

• Godly (she is one the best examples of Christianity I’ve ever met)
• Witty (she always makes me laugh at least once or twice a day)
• Brilliant (she currently has a 3.9 GPA out of 4 in her classes!)
• Very warm, caring, and loving to all
  
• Smokingly hot
  

I kind of knew I was on to something when I began dating Mrs. L (Ms. L back then) as compared to other people I had brought home. When she met my family, my my father came up to me privately and said, “This is the best-looking woman you’ve ever brought to meet us by far.” My father had known Ms. L for all of 30 seconds. No superficiality running in my family! =) My grandmother, when meeting her, forewent the custom “Hi, nice to meet you,” choosing instead to say, “You’re beautiful!” as if it was a shock that I’d actually be bringing an attractive woman to meet them.

As I got to know her better, I realized that although Mrs. L was definitely the best looking woman I’ve ever dated, her other intrinsic qualities were even more beautiful than her outward appearance. She was very intelligent, well-read, and well-spoken. She had an infectious laugh (and giggle) as well as an ability to sound like a torch singer every so often that pretty much melted me into a puddle of nothing. She is a fabulous cook and baker and amazing at anything she does or puts her mind to.

So what does all this have to the coin? When I first met Mrs. L (on Lavalife, more on that in another post someday) she was living in Hong Kong teaching Language Arts in a private school and only visiting Edmonton once a year. When she came back to Edmonton that July we met each other in person for the first time.

Two months flew by and she was already going back – I knew that she meant the world to me (I mean, she bought me a reissued original Megatron Transformer that actually fires caps, *and* she was attracted to me in spite of the perm I had at the time), so I wanted to give her something that signified that and that would remind her of me when she was back a continent away. After a lot of careful deliberation, I gave her the coin around my neck – the coin had finally brought me the prosperity I truly desired, as I had found her. One year later, when she came back to Edmonton to stay, Mrs. L gave the coin back to me, where I have kept it around my neck ever since. I don’t wear it now because it brings me prosperity or success – I wear it because it reminds me of her and our initial times spent dating, wherever I am.  That coin has seen a lot of places!

I know that this is a complete deviation from my normal topics of questionable technical knowledge, questionable book reviews, and Donald Belcham's questionable sexuality, but I felt it necessary to say thanks to my wife…without her, I don’t really know where my life would have been. So many different doors in my life opened up because of my wife’s good influences on me and her wonderful spiritual example. Truly my knowing her is one of the top 2 greatest, most beneficial changes that my life has ever experienced. Everyone who knows her is a better person for it – but I am the only one on the planet lucky enough to be her husband.  I am blessed with a large vocabulary, but I don't have words to truly describe to you how much she means to me and how she has changed my life.

Thanks, Mrs. L, for being the best wife, woman, friend, and soulmate that anyone could ever ask her. I love you, and happy one year anniversary!