March Madness is upon us. Office pools are being finalized, cash registers in Vegas are singing, and throughout America productive work is grinding to a halt.

For me, March Madness has a special additional meaning. Back in March of 2002, when I was dating my wife but we were not yet engaged to be married, my beloved California Golden Bears finally made it back into the NCAA Tournament for the first time in years. They even won their first round game, and earned the right to play a second-round weekend game. Michele and I had plans to do something together that weekend, and I gingerly brought up the possibility of changing our plans to accommodate the game. She said “Why don’t I just drop you off at Damon’s Steak House where all the games will be on giant screen tvs, you can order some food and watch them all, and I will come get you when the game is over.” Less than a month later, we were engaged–and she has turned out to be an even greater wife and mom than cool girlfriend..

This Saturday, as the second round games kick off six years later, I will be sitting with Michele and the boys at some show at the Bob Carpenter Center where people in giant Sesame Street suits cavort around and giggle to themselves about the fact that we have paid $30 a ticket to see them. Then while the late games are on, I will be driving to Sussex County to serve as a “celebrity server” at an appreciation dinner for volunteer firefighters. Man, my life has changed.