May 12, 2025: The Forever License

I got it back in 2006.

A license that never expires — and no, it’s not a special driving permit or a 007 license to kill. But I do have the authority to create something incredible, which I've done countless times.

The credential is easy to get, though most folks never bother. There are no required exams or internships. Only a little paperwork and POOF! All official.

Some people turn the skill into a side hustle while others build a career around it. Me? I save mine for friends. And when done right, they respond with pure gratitude.

What is this mysterious qualification? It’s being able to… officiate weddings.

I performed my most recent one a few days ago. Then this week I read about another, more intense certification.

In Japan, there’s a culinary license for preparing fugu, a famous fish delicacy. But to earn it, chefs train for several years, apprenticing under a master.

Why the lengthy process? Because one mistake, and the fish kills. The toxins are 1,200 times more lethal than cyanide, and no antidote exists.

Prepared properly, though, and the result is elegant.

Much like a wedding. Except with less poison.