It's a trite but true expression: Today is the first day of the rest of your life. Every time I hear that I think "well duh!" For some reason that expression keeps coming back to me today as I begin the first day of my 50th year, the first day of my second year of marriage.

For some, the day would be a moment to look back on 49 years of life and reflect. For me though, it's a day to look forward to those things yet to do: songs yet unwritten, books yet unread, animals yet unrescued, trips yet untaken, kisses yet ungiven. Is this one of those "glass half full / glass half empty" kind of things? Perhaps... However, I think that people who look at their life and believe that their best years are behind them have one foot in the grave already. I look forward on my life and the grave is not even on the horizon.

I share "my" special day with my wife of 1 year; thus it becomes "our" special day, which makes it doubly special for me. We essentially eloped, which is what all the crazy kids are doing these days. The judge acting as Justice of the Peace was named Pinky Toomer. Of course she was - considering our wedding announcement (posted after the fact) was a snippet from an Adult Swim cartoon, it couldn't be any other way.

It's an odd thing to be celebrating a birthday and anniversary while one is unemployed. I feel like I should be more morose. Once again though, I believe attitude and a positive outlook are key. Raine and I had discussed relocating before, and had decided to make that part of our 5 year plan. While on vacation last month, I had mentioned I was bored with my job and wanted to go with something different, but felt that the economic climate wasn't right yet to start looking.

So - what was a initially a devastating blow becomes an opportunity; I can look forward to a new job, and - potentially - a new locale. My hand has been forced. Once thing I've learned (especially in the past 3-4 years with my life's love) is that what initially seems like a devastating blow is actually a paradigm shift in life, a shift that becomes for the better. I can think of several specific times where it felt like the universe was smacking me across the face and saying "are you paying attention? THIS is what you're supposed to be doing".

Those of a religious bent would say "God doesn't close one door without opening another" or "God works in mysterious ways". I am not a religious person, so I'll just say that there are signs that come along at key moments in your life, where the road forks, and if you're willing to just trust that what initially appears to be the more difficult path is the correct one, you will end up at your destination.

Years ago I could have taken what appeared to be the easier path and stayed with my first wife. After having the universe correct my misperception several tmes, however, I chose instead what looked like the rocky road into the legal miasma (and boy was it ever rocky). As a result, though, I ended up where I am now, happily married and appreciative of my mate.

So I pin my hopes and dreams on my belief that better things await me in the future as I keep looking for that job that I know is out there with my name on it. I hope I recognize it when I see it, and don't need to have the universe smack me in the face again.

In honor of this special day, I leave you with They Might Be Giants: