Last night marked Nicole’s and my 8th wedding anniversary. For the past few years, Nicole and I have coincidentally alternated years attending a sporting event on our anniversary. Since a wedding anniversary is an equal opportunity day to celebrate the past year and look forward to the year ahead, we have found this to be a good way to celebrate from time to time.

In 2004, Nicole’s gift to me was to attend the Pro Beach Volleyball competition at North Beach during the day in Chicago. The daytime event left plenty of time for a romantic dinner at night. In 2006, we attended the NASCAR race at California Speedway. Nothing says romance like NASCAR! Last night, we attended the Chicago Cubs game at Wrigley Field. The Cubs charge $40 (which goes to charity) to put a Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary or Cubs Welcome message on the center field scoreboard. Since we attended last night, I put up a message that said, “Happy Anniversary Nicole. (with a romantic line here that was under the remaining 33 characters).”

Before the game, Nicole and I ate at our favorite Pizzeria in Wrigleyville – Pizza Rustica. As a BYOB restaurant, you bring your favorite bottle of wine and eat delicious Sicilian pizza. Be sure to order the Rustica Salad to start and the Tutta Pizza if you like all of the ingredients.

Our anniversary could not change the Cubs fortunes. In my 50th Cubs home game this season, the Cubs lost to the Houston Astros 4-0. The loss was the Cubs fifth consecutive – their longest losing streak of the season (all game I attended). Randy Wolf threw his first shutout in more the 4 years.

Note: Before I was married, I only attended one sporting event on September 3. That was in 1988 when I saw the Oakland Athletics host the New York Yankees.