One year ago today... I wrote a love-letter of sorts to my wife Gail on the occasion of our Wedding Anniversary. I hope you will indulge me as I repost the words I wrote about her last year. As we celebrate another year together, they are truer than ever. 

*****

On this day...a few years back... (ahem) I had the honor of marrying Gail Nulton, my high school sweetheart and the girl of my dreams. I was 16 and she was 15 when we met. Four and a half years later, we "took the plunge" as they say, and said our "I Do's" on a cold day in our hometown of Kenmore, NY. The photo below was snapped at her parent's house right after we returned from our brief honeymoon in NYC. Thus the slightly nervous smiles on both of our faces!! The two of us knowing that the two of them knew, that we knew, that they knew, well... you get the picture. Those were different days... 

Gail, the kindest, most giving woman I've ever known, cheered me on as we zig-zagged across the country from one radio station to another, finally landing in Detroit, as I pursued my dream of making it in Radio. And always with a smile on her face. (Even when we moved to Baltimore and I was fired after 5 weeks - just as she finished hanging the curtains!) 

Along the way, she gave me (at least I think they're mine) 6 beautiful girls. Over the years, lots of people have said, "Dick... 6 Girls! You're amazing!" and I always reply, "Hey... it took Gail 54 months... It's only took me 6 minutes!" (But I don't mean to brag).

Our beautiful girls went on to bless us with eight incredible grandchildren - 2 Girls - and, unbelievably, 6 Boys! And I think it says a lot about Gail that everyone in our family lives within 20 minutes of our house. 

Our life together has been an incredible adventure... meeting John F. Kennedy... our home movies with The Beatles taken when we brought them to Cincinnati in 1964... Gail singing a duet with Regis Philbin a few years ago at Andiamo's... and so much more. 

We have been lucky enough to take wonderful vacations... with our family... with friends... and sometimes, just the two of us. 

We have faced down health crises both with our kids and ourselves. In fact, next month marks 20 years since Gail was diagnosed with advanced Ovarian Cancer and given a 20% chance of making it 5 years. 

Two decades later, she is here, next to me as always, celebrating the Anniversary of our Wedding. 

This time of year, with Christmas just days away, you often come across "It's A Wonderful Life" on TV. 

And I can tell you... Thanks to the strong, beautiful, funny, generous, charitable, thoughtful and loving young girl sitting next to the guy with the crooked smile... mine, indeed, has been... and continues to be... A Wonderful Life. 

Happy Anniversary Gail. I Love You more than you can ever know! 

-Dick