Happy 29th Anniversary, Mr. and Mrs. Kirk Watson! I always enjoy Fridays because the Slate political gabfest updates every Friday, and I get a "Watson Wire" (the State Senator's weekly newsletter) in my inbox. They are a mix of personal life and policy, and this week, we get a story from way-back-when:

While we started dating when I was 14-years-old, she turned me down the first time I asked her out.

It was Boswell High School Homecoming. 1972. I worked up some courage, caught up with her near the library, looked her straight in the eye, and said, "Liz, will you go to homecoming with me?" Without hesitating, she looked me equally straight in the eye and replied, "No. I'm waiting on someone else to ask me."

My father sort of warned me that might happen. When I was in the eighth grade the year before, he and I were driving home past the house Liz grew up in. I pointed to her house and proclaimed, "Daddy, you see that house? That's where Liz McDaniel lives. Next year, I'm going to date her."

He shook his head and said, "Son, I wouldn't get my hopes up."

Liz and I have known each other since we both attended Saginaw Elementary School in Saginaw, Texas. I initially got goobered up over her when I was in the sixth grade and she was a seventh-grade cheerleader. I remember distinctly going to my first pep rally in the Wayside Middle School gym, which was exciting enough in its own right. But when she came running out on the floor, well, let's just say she had me at "Go Wildcats."

Anyway, I'm thinking that I can declare a victory now that we've been married 29 years. Besides, I'm obviously over the fact that she turned me down for the first date.

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