Five

Seven years ago, I met someone online.

Six years ago, we started our relationship.

Five years ago, we sealed our relationship with marriage.

Forgive me if the following is rambling, but I’m just going to write what is in my heart.

Dear Husband,

We did it. We survived five years of marriage. Despite the doubts voiced by many a person about our relationship, we made it to a landmark anniversary (considering the divorce rate, five years IS a landmark). We overcame many obstacles in our life together, which caused some friction between us, but never caused us to hate each other. In fact, I think it made us stronger.

I know I haven’t been the easiest person to live with, but you managed to survive all of my evil ways, and have snapped me out of more than one bad mood and/or evil habit. In return, I have nagged you to not work so hard and bluntly reminded you that you need to relax. It works for us. I hope it will always work for us. I think it will.

You were wondering why I pulled down the old photos of us. I did that because I wanted to dredge up some photos to post on here, and because I wanted to relive the earlier days of our relationship. The photo boxes contained all the cards we exchanged while we were dating, and they brought a smile to my face. The hardships we faced because you lived 100 miles away from me, the fact that your parents disliked me (and still do, for that matter) and tried to keep us apart…it did nothing to quell our feelings for each other.

When we got married, I was joyous, although I was eight months pregnant and feeling like a pack mule. I think our wedding really reflected what our married life would be: simple, flowing along, with an occasional minor bump (the bump usually being lack of money). I knew that those tiny bumps wouldn't diminish our love at all.

Then a month later, when we welcomed the boy child into the world, my love for you grew even more. You had given me a beautiful gift, and you stuck by me through the pain and trauma that was caused by delivering said gift. I think we did an awesome job, though. Our kid rules, even if he is an angry smartass…sort of like me. Like you said, your genes are recessive. Ah well. Maybe our hypothetical next baby will be more like you, in looks and personality.

When we were living with my parents and scrambling for money, you did your best to make sure we were provided for. When you realized that nothing was going to come of these dead end jobs that both you and I had, you applied for grad school and got in. Though I was sad to leave my family, you have taken us on a major adventure in our married life: the adventure of being independent and responsible. Oh, and the adventure of actually LEAVING California to live in an awesome city 2500 miles away. Sure, it was hard to give up my family and friends, but you forced me to experience new things and new sights.

I know this past year with me has been difficult for you, but I can never express how much I love you for sticking by me through my “issues”. You never belittled me, you never told me to get over it, you never did anything that would push me over the edge. Instead, you made sure I got help. You held me up when I was down. You did whatever you could to make me feel better. It made a difference. Trust me. Even when I was acting crazy, having your calm presence around helped. Thank you.

I’m hoping that these five years of marriage are only the beginning of a long and loving partnership together. I can’t think of a better way to spend my life.

Love,
Wife

Now for your enjoyment: pictures!

The night we got engaged.

Awwwwww.

More awwwww.

One of my favorite pictures of us. Dunno what happened to the bottom of it, though.

San Francisco, right before we got married.

Wedding kiss. Note the stylish outfits.

Our family.