The relational data model, proposed by Ted Codd in the 1970s, has been the dominant paradigm for storing and accessing business data for several decades. In this talk, I'll share some stories from the early days of relational databases, and examine some reasons for the remarkable resilience of relational database technology. I'll discuss some of the challenges to the relational approach that have arisen over the years. I'll also discuss the evolution of SQL, and offer some thoughts about how the language may continue to evolve in the future.