I often think of my life as comprising three distinct phases. Phase one, the opening act from when I was born until I met the love of my life in 1982 at age 26. I was lost, and she found me and restored me. Phase, two started that date and lasted until I retired at age 60 and I am now living in Phase three.

But I will always remember the day we met, for it was the best day of my life. I dreamt of meeting her in 1974 in high school. I fell asleep during a boring physics class. I saw her standing there. She was the most beautiful woman in the entire world to me. I called out, "who are you?" she faded away. I fell to the ground, and the class erupted in laughter.

I started having the same dream for eight years. When I had to decide where to go in the Peace Corps. I had the dream and knew she was in Korea. I went there looking for her but did not find her. I had given up and was getting ready to return to the States to go to graduate school when I had the last dream. She told me "don't worry. We will meet soon." That night, getting off the bus, was the girl in the dream. That date was the best day of my life and I felt I had been reborn that day.