Today is the 9th of November.. 11/9.. or.. 9/11 in some parts of the world.   It’s the day that Diane and I got engaged in 1985. We were living in Winchester in the south of England. Diane was studying for her midterms for her graduate program. .. ..We went out to eat at the Chesil Rectory.. a nice restaurant in Winchester that was first opened in 1450 (yes.. 1450 !). We had a nice dinner then walked back home along the river.. At one point I dropped to my knee and gave diane the ring I’d made her in my blacksmithing class.. no diamond. just a thin twisted band of mild steel I’d hand forged out of 1/4 inch bar stock. I asked her to marry me.. she said yes.. then she got on her knee and asked me the same.. it was one of the best decisions I ever made..26 years later were still very much in love..

There is an interesting story around the date.. It may come as a shock to you .. but 911 has always been my lucky number.. as a kid.. it occurred in my life all the time .. it was our locker number at the swimming club, my bike combo (by accident).. and many other things like that.   in 1982 I even put it on the inside door of my first bedroom in this house where it remains today

I had planned to get engaged on Sept 11.. but that didn’t work out for reasons to complicated to explain here..   We opted for 11/9 as being the next closest thing….  911 remained my lucky number up until 911 when it became one of the least popular numbers in history..   strange but true

anyway.. I’m happy to remember 11/9 as anniversary day..  I love you Diane

nite all, nite sam

-me