A Personal Tribute

Today is a special day. I'm going to tell you a very personal story about it.

Those who read my writing know that I've long said that committing to a life partner (or choosing not to) is easily the most life-impacting decision we make. It affects nearly everything else in our lives: family, friendships, careers, where we live, how we vacation and recreate, and the list keeps going.

A healthy and growing relationship provides not just support and comfort, but motivation and purpose. An unhealthy one makes life burdensome and difficult at best, and nearly unmanageable at worst.

I've known this young lady since 1989…that's over 30 years…

We became a couple on this day, December 29th, exactly 27 years ago in 1993.

We formally married 8 years later in 2001.

And we've remained best friends ever since.

When we first met, Ana, who was my little sister's best friend, used to visit us at our University Village apartment: 687 square feet (much like this one: https://apartments.utah.edu/housing-options/family/northeast-ct-photos.php). Our immigrant family had nothing material as every penny we had or earned at the time went to non-resident tuition at the University of Utah. I had no car (and wouldn't for many years). I didn't have my own place. I couldn't afford to eat out at restaurants.

But Ana didn't care. She was with me and my family from the very beginning of our journey in the United States. She didn't see our economic status, our ethnic background, our nationality, or anything else that was circumstantial. Instead, she chose to see what was inside and beyond skin-deep.

And that is, first and foremost, what makes her so incredibly special. Beyond that, it's her selfless generosity and commitment to anyone who is fortunate enough to enter her circle that makes her one-of-a-kind. She has always put mine (and, later, the kids') interests and well-being before her own. She has always gone above and beyond to help, to encourage, and to work tirelessly behind the scenes.

It's for this reason I'm compelled to write publicly about her: because she does all of the "hard things" for me, our nuclear family, and our extended family & friends, but doesn't seek the spotlight. People like that deserve to be recognized.

While I can't thank my parents enough for making the first half of my life possible, I must give credit to the amazing Ana for the second half. Without her behind-the-scenes orchestration, support, guidance, and encouragement, very little of what I've achieved would've been possible.

Happy birthday, beautiful. Thank you for being my unconditional best friend for all of these years, for seeing me, and for believing in me.