From that Man I Call Mine

"I've been thinking a lot about our life
together. I'm proud of our 8 years together, even if we can't be
together today.

I certainly remember meeting you, talking to you in the Institute,
dancing with you, holding your hand for the first time. You stand out
in my memory as the most impressive, attractive woman I've ever met.

When I think of what was probably our first date, the one where we
went back to your house and talked for hours about hiking, traveling
and who knows what else. I remember talking about climbing
Timpanogos, you told me you had hiked to the top a number of times
with your dad and I was impressed. I fell in love with you then.

It's hard to say exactly what it was about you that night that
attracted me so much, but it's clear that it was substantive because
it endured through the months we spent apart after that, including the
months I spent in Costa Rica without you and could hardly communicate
with you. We were able to enjoy two months together 24/7 without
getting bored or irritated with each other. I found that amazing.
And it has persisted through 8 years of marriage.

You're beautiful. I thought you were pretty when I noticed you in
class. You stood out with your mixture of good looks, confidence and
personality.

While I was in Costa Rica without you I realized that you were worth
investing in. I remember noticing other women in Central America and
realizing that I didn't see any as interesting or appealing as you,
and that you were so alluring that I wasn't interested in any other
woman. That was a novel feeling then. But it dawned on me that if
things worked out while we were together in Central America that you
would probably be the woman I married.

I don't know why I remember some things much more clearly than
actually asking you to marry me. I remember walking down that dirt
road out in the cloud forest in Monteverde and how hard we laughed
when we realized that we had some conflicting expectations about the
future. We had talked for hours about moving to China to teach
English. After talking extensively about it, it must have occurred to
me that there was a disconnect. I said, "I heard we could make a lot
of money teaching English in China." Your response, "You can do that
for money?"

I remember being with you as we crossed the border into Nicaragua and
then explored Granada and Leon. It was unforgettable being with you
when we visited the Boy's Home, swam in Lake Nicaragua, and learned
all about the culture and challenges of life in that country. I must
have been thinking more about spending the rest of my life with you
than actually asking you to marry me. That's probably why it was
anticlimactic when I did ask. And despite some cold feet later, I was
committed.

You remember better than I do that I expressed some anxiety about
getting married, but that also doesn't stand out to me. When I think
about that period as we became engaged and made plans to get married,
I know that I felt more confident and comfortable about our
relationship than I had felt about any relationship I had had since
1994 (when you were in elementary school). I had intentionally been
shallow and superficial with virtually every woman I'd met until I met
you and we latched onto each other during our trip.

That was me falling in love with you."

Awwwwww. Did you melt? Right now I'm just one gooey puddle of sappy melted love.

Good News Tuesday

Brownies circa 1990

Eventually, I did indeed grow into my knees.

Good News Tuesday

SIXTY DAYS, YO!
and this girl's a fish.

Good News Tuesday

This man loves me.