Late Monday night, Sports Illustrated writer Richard Deitsch tweeted, "How many of you have a photograph of the single best moment of your life? If so, what a gift." A flood of people tweeted back at him with photos of them at their happiest.
Deitsch's inquiry was inspired by this photo of a fellow sports writer celebrating with his brother, who had just won an NCAA hockey championship at Yale.
Responses to Deitsch's question included everything from proposals, weddings, the birth and adoption of children to beating life-threatening illnesses. Thirty of our favorite emotional tweets are below -- and yes, we teared up, just a little, while writing this.
1.
@richarddeitsch I got a pic of the happiest moment of my life the exact second it happened. She said yes! pic.twitter.com/Rp2KZ40J89— Steve Wendt (@steve_wendt) July 9, 2013
2.
@richarddeitsch @Sports_Casters My wife's sons waiting to walk her down the aisle. Sonoma. Just two weekends ago. pic.twitter.com/0AqgJ2Gqqm— Ryan Wallace (@BigBlueWest) July 9, 2013
3.
@richarddeitsch I can't not play... I don't think I've ever laughed so hard... Best. Day. Ever. pic.twitter.com/TBX78v034v— Heather Brittany (@HeatherBrit) July 9, 2013
4.
@richarddeitsch The day my wife woke up after her double-lung/heart transplant. pic.twitter.com/JEYalwt6lr— Ryan Kaltenbach (@RyanKaltenbach) July 9, 2013
5.
@richarddeitsch @Sports_Casters the day after my wife woke up from & survived brain tumor surgery. 4 yrs cancer-free pic.twitter.com/YR0UrD4DYQ— Justin Pybas (@pybas_311) July 9, 2013
6.
@richarddeitsch @sports_casters the night I skipped homework to spend time with my Grammy, one of my last times pic.twitter.com/6o8n2l8fLA— Joann Villanueva (@joannmarieee) July 9, 2013
7.
@richarddeitsch @sports_casters Surprised her with a question before school began. #SheSaidYes pic.twitter.com/6eSLxmRQPH— James Max DeFilippis (@maxflipper) July 9, 2013
8.
@richarddeitsch first time I played catch with my son. @dodger stadium pic.twitter.com/njCVt3sXy0— Jerry Carmona (@BigScaryMexican) July 9, 2013
9.
@richarddeitsch @Sports_Casters Qualifying for the Boston Marathon a year after dropping out at Mile 25 pic.twitter.com/y8OIyYpJYZ— Nathan Giannini (@nathangiannini) July 9, 2013
10.
@richarddeitsch @Sports_Casters Set an American Record in the midst of a quarter life crisis pic.twitter.com/zX80SUWEyu— Ann Gaffigan (@anngaff) July 9, 2013
11.
@richarddeitsch My mother, who was my school's superintendent my high school career, after she handed me my diploma pic.twitter.com/dE4RU34jrO— Lane Smith (@Lanentations) July 9, 2013
12.
@richarddeitsch I came home from Iraq (2nd tour) and got to hug my mom! pic.twitter.com/OuQJSd4ms9— Ken (@TheKenChin) July 9, 2013
13.
@richarddeitsch Yep. Moment my son smiled at me for the first time. pic.twitter.com/EY6rkUMmGf— JT (@thesonsofnoone) July 9, 2013
14.
.@richarddeitsch - Daughter was born a preemie. Held her against me after to keep her warm. She melted my heart. pic.twitter.com/XwEevST3WO— Sports Biz Radio (@SBRadio) July 9, 2013
15.
@richarddeitsch @sports_casters Easy choice.. Jordan & Nola coming into my life on 11/8/11.. And every day since! pic.twitter.com/OyfHx3W4E8— Rob Carlin (@RobCarlinCSN) July 9, 2013
16.
@richarddeitsch @sports_casters / Have 3. When these animals came into my world. pic.twitter.com/5RDMzSG2Gf— Eric Kohli (@EKohli) July 9, 2013
17.
@richarddeitsch The day we adopted our three kids. pic.twitter.com/NgdrAwzDSH— Cory (@iamcoryho) July 9, 2013
18.
@richarddeitsch Seeing my son, who once couldn't tolerate skates on feet b/c of autism, skate in front of 47k people pic.twitter.com/CH6oOWHgdt— Neil N (@pucksandpuzzles) July 9, 2013
19.
@richarddeitsch almost 4 years later & I still haven't topped this day! pic.twitter.com/YmW74cXE4x— James Farrish (@JamesF84) July 9, 2013
20.
@richarddeitsch my mother, baking cookies with my son. She passed away 3 years later. pic.twitter.com/KRbIvOGypW— Bob Ashley (@rashley314) July 9, 2013
21.
@richarddeitsch Right before I proposed to my unsuspecting girlfriend in the snow in Northern Minnesota. pic.twitter.com/VLgDmKMgRH— Eric Weber (@edweber1) July 9, 2013
22.
@richarddeitsch One of them. My first day covering and writing about sports. pic.twitter.com/OotTF06Py8— Chris Hatfield (@_ChrisHatfield) July 9, 2013
23.
@richarddeitsch @Sports_Casters day I graduated boot camp. Mom said she was never more proud of me. pic.twitter.com/kSY38lX5YT— Jake Eastman (@ThatGuyJakeE) July 9, 2013
24.
@richarddeitsch The first time my son held his sister. pic.twitter.com/PzWQle3oHT— Brian B (@CCBsDad) July 9, 2013
25.
@richarddeitsch @Sports_Casters graduated @SyracuseU 6 months after being diagnosed with brain cancer pic.twitter.com/Sz4aiYUpjl— Rob Long (@RobLong47) July 9, 2013
26.
@richarddeitsch This was taken literally at that moment. It's all in the eyes. Holding my 1st born for the 1st time. pic.twitter.com/vWgFEV5gsX— jeremiah cox (@jeremiahcox) July 9, 2013
27.
@richarddeitsch This is close. My Grandfather who was a POW in WWII meeting his namesake. pic.twitter.com/hafI9F3lU2— Charles James (@Charles_James1) July 9, 2013
28.
@richarddeitsch The day I met my wife. Matching T-shirts obviously unplanned (by us anyway). pic.twitter.com/O5JcDtp5vt— David Dorsey (@DavidADorsey) July 9, 2013
29.
@richarddeitsch became a Marine Lt. Best day so far pic.twitter.com/fGC7FWNMcf— Jack Tee (@T_Rock432) July 9, 2013
30.
@richarddeitsch @Sports_Casters #bestdayofmylife pic.twitter.com/B1iqpmiUrA— Matthew Totten (@StaffMatty) July 9, 2013
What's the happiest moment of your life? Was it captured on camera?
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