I am about to share something with you all that is so sad ... pathetic, actually .... and has me puzzling away at any possible significance. I'm wondering if I should be worried, angry and devastated or unconcerned and totally okay.

You see, in the course of posting an earlier blog, I happened to check the calendar to check what the heck month this might be ... September? How did THAT happen? ... and I suddenly came face to face with the fact that yesterday was the 13th anniversary of my marriage to Mark.

Hmmmm.

What? No flowers? No card, candy, gift? Not even a nudge or smooch, much less a romantic dinner and some well-thunk reminiscences?

After only thirteen years my husband forgets this important day?

After all these years, thirteen of them, our marriage means so little that the day itself means nothing?

Okay, okay ... so that's a set-up.

Okay, okay ... I forgot, too.

So, what does this mean?

Well, for starters I'd say that it means that after thirteen years some of Mark's underwhelmment with the Hallmark-like marking of occasions has rubbed off on me. Not that a wedding anniversary isn't important, it's just no longer something I'd plan way in advance for, looking for the perfect card and spangle hearts to fill an envelope with so a shiny lap-full of love would start my darling's day.

Living in Seychelles for the past eleven years has taken its toll, as well. I learned a while back now that running to town for any special gift would be a waste of time and energy, unless I wanted to consider bright and shiny polyester shirts or knock-off cologne (similar bottle to Mark's fav, but the smell .... whew!) "special".

And our day did fall on a Friday. Not a good day, Friday, as Mark gets home late and I'm wrung out from a week of working with the kids underfoot day in and day out, and I've had this lousy ear infection ...

And it has NOTHING to do with the fact that I'm fifty-six now and playing it a bit fast and loose with memory. After all, Mark is a mere 40, and he forgot first. (I know that's not fair, but he's not writing this blog, is he?)

Okay, okay ... so I'm not upset in the slightest, only very happy to be prompted by the calendar to realize that I've had 13 wonderful years of wedded bliss with the man of my dreams and that I'm an amazingly lucky woman.

I don't need candy, anyway, and there are flowers all over the place.