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20 years ago today, I got married downtown Manhattan, a couple blocks from the World Trade Center where 9 months later our baby new normal would impact the world.

We picked the first day of the new year with a memorable number 2001-01-11. Later that day we saw the great Canadian author Douglas Coupland speak at a Barnes & Noble on 6th. We even got to speak to him. He said we should be honeymooning somewhere. After we ate at a top of the line restaurant for $400 each (way more than I spend each month now), with no menu or choice - they just bring it. (Danny's I think was the name, after the chef, though I could care less.) The many courses were amazing (tiny yet surprisingly filling), but everyone in there looked absolutely miserable except for us - and not just because we were newlyweds. I mean those rich people (and the staff) were stuffy, boring, some even beautiful, but all in frowns.

Nine months later I was in SF, still very dusty after Burning Man, without a greencard, and soon to be divorced so she could marry her new boyfriend and make babies.