By Carl Sampson
Where were you exactly 25 years ago?
I know where I was. I was quivering at the altar of the Cathedral of the Nativity in Juneau, Alaska. Walking up the aisle toward me was the Most Wonderful Woman in the World, who was about to become Mrs. Sampson.
That wedding has changed everything about me and my life, and boy am I grateful. I was a 32-year-old workaholic. A 12-hour day was a short day for me. I often worked all weekend just because I didn’t have anything else to do.
I didn’t have any friends to speak of – editing a newspaper doesn’t exactly make you Mr. Popular with most folks.
And then along came this beautiful woman, who brought a whole new dimension to my life. Because of her, I figured out that there’s more to life than politics. Because of her, our life is overflowing with friends and family.
And because of her we have four kids that are a total kick in the pants.
When I got married, the first thing I learned was that it wasn’t my life anymore. It was our life. I like everything about sharing everything I – we – own and do.
Mainly, though, I’ve enjoyed sharing the laughs. Most of the time I feel as though I’m in the midst of a cross between a three-ring circus and that old television show, “Candid Camera.” I often find myself looking around for a hidden camera.
Our oldest son, Paul, is a good driver. He didn’t start out that way. One day, when he had his learner’s permit, Patti let him drive while they ran some errands. As he pulled into the garage, he sort of lost control.
From inside the house it sounded like one of those old radio sound-effect tapes, with tinkling glass, piles of junk crashing downward and, finally, a hubcap spinning on the garage floor.
By the time I got to the scene, Paul was standing in the garage fuming, “Who put that there?”
“What? The garage wall?” I asked.
Patti, though, was cool.
“I think I’ll let you ride with him from now on,” she said as she dusted herself off and headed into the house.
She has a knack of saying the right thing at just the right time. With only a few words, she can make me or the kids feel as though we could take on the world.
Once, I got it into my head that I wanted to become a stockbroker. I signed up with one of those ginormous multi-national companies and began studying to get a broker’s license. When I started, I didn’t know a put from a call, but I passed the test.
It wasn’t necessarily because I was the brightest bulb. It was because Patti was behind me 100 percent.
And she still is.
Everything I do, I know she’s rooting for me. And vice versa.
In my mind, that makes all of the difference in the world.
It’s been a wonderful 25 years, and I’m shooting for at least another 25.
Oh, what the heck. Make that 26.
