Celebrating Ten Years and Living My Best Life🧘‍♂️ A Quiet Day at Home

 

🎉 Celebrating 10 Years Together
Last night was a beautiful celebration of a decade spent with Kim. We marked our 10-year anniversary with a cozy dinner at The Keg, where I indulged in a hearty 20 oz steak and Kim opted for a more modest 8 oz cut. It felt so good to get out together and enjoy a special evening. We kept things simple—just water to drink, with fresh bread and salad to start. The atmosphere was perfect, and I soaked in every moment of our time together.

We’re incredibly grateful for our families, who made the night even more special. My parents generously gave us cash to enjoy our dinner, and Kim’s parents gifted us movie money so we could extend the celebration. Their thoughtfulness reminded us how lucky we are to be surrounded by love and support.

Family and friends made it sweeter

We were so blessed by our families: my parents gave us cash to enjoy the night and Kim’s parents sent money for a movie treat. Our friends even gifted us a 20% tip card for the meal, which covered the gratuity—and I told Kim on the way home that if I had to pick any night to leave an extra-large tip, our anniversary would be it.

A peaceful follow-up day

Today was gentle and low-key. I took care of some routine blood work and tests, then we spent the rest of the day at home with music playing. Kim slept through the morning until the dog decided it was time to get up. It was one of those quiet, grateful days that make ordinary moments feel rich.

Gratitude

We went out feeling celebrated and came home feeling grateful—for each other, for family and friends, and for the simple pleasure of a good meal and a slow day together.

Living the best years

For the last few years I keep telling people I meet that I’m living the best of my life, and today—22 years into this journey—that feels truer than ever. I’ve never been this happy; the ordinary days feel fuller, and milestones like our 10th anniversary only highlight how much has changed for the better.

Small victories, big meaning

This year has brought one of my proudest wins: I’ve stayed smoke-free for the longest stretch since the 1990s, quitting for about two-thirds of the year so far. It’s a steady, quiet victory that has reshaped how I feel day to day—more present, healthier, and more confident in the momentum I’ve built.

Gratitude for the year

Everything this year has felt like forward motion. Between the celebrations with Kim, the support from family and friends, and these personal wins, I’m just happy with how the year has progressed. There’s a calm certainty now that the best years aren’t behind me—they’re happening right now.

Movie Night, Math, and the Middle of Life

Watched a Bruce Springsteen film with Kim last night. I didn’t expect much, but it surprised me—in a good way. One of the major characters had schizophrenia, and the portrayal was honest, even gentle. No trauma porn, no drug spirals or violence. Just a long relationship, some chiaroscuro lighting to hint at the shadows, and a family that showed up with quiet respect. I braced for discomfort, but there was nothing to fear. It made me feel safer, somehow.

Afterward, I did the math. I’ve lived about 15,000 days. Maybe I’ve got 15,000 left. Two thousand of those will be with Dixie, and I plan to make every one count. If I read a book every three days, that’s about 5,000 more stories to live through. I might make it to 82, but I’m not banking on the bonus years. Still—right now—I’m living the best days of my life.

There’s something sacred about the middle. Not the beginning, not the end. Just this stretch of days where I walk with Dixie, sit beside Kim, and let stories and sunsets shape me. That’s enough. That’s everything.