18 years ago today

On September 12, 1995, I arrived in New Zealand and met Nigel in real life for the first time. It was the day that would set into motion what would turn out to be the biggest—and best—change in my life.

Back in 2010, I summed up what I think is important about this date:

“We tend to lose track of the minor anniversaries in our lives—the small dates that lead, ultimately, to the bigger dates we do remember. Mentioning such a date here is my small way of remembering what became life-changing, a series of events that began, really, on September 12, 1995.”

And that’s why I blog about this every year, and will as long as I have a blog: It mattered, even if it was overshadowed by other events and other anniversaries. This day, 18 years ago, is when things really began.

I’ll end with something I said last year, because it’s as true now as ever, and another reason why seemingly minor anniversaries are nevertheless important:

“Never underestimate the power of love to make the improbable possible, or to transform the unlikely into an entirely new life.”

Previous posts about this anniversary (the first three only mention it):

Anniversay Time (2007)
Blogoversary 2 (2008)
Anniversaries Three and Fourteen (2009)
Where it began (2010)
Anniversary of the beginning (2011)
Another anniversary (2012)