In my case, the campaign had later significant and unforeseen carryover effects several years later. The former campaign treasurer later introduced me to a co- worker of hers, Cathy Vanselow. Cathy had grown up in Springfield, Illinois and was then working at the headquarters of a chain of paint and wallpaper stores training employees. She was smart, funny, and ready for high adventure if the occasion called for it. She proved this for me when on one occasion, with almost no notice, I asked her if she’d like to join me to and immediately fly to Florida. I was a late invitee to a memorial celebration my new employer Rod MacArthur was having in honor of his recently deceased father, John D. MacArthur. Cathy grabbed the last of what she needed for the trip at O’Hare Airport as we scrambled to get on the chartered jet to Palm Beach.

Cathy and I went on to marry in 1979. Our first son Andy was born prematurely the next year, and our second child Patrick came along in 1985. There hasn’t been a day since we were married that I haven’t felt lucky to have fallen in love with her and been able to share with her the joys and parental worries that inevitably come with family life. While I’ve made my share of mistakes in life, the decision to ask Cathy to marry me was clearly the smartest thing I ever did.