I Want You to Always Stay

As cheesy as it this is to admit, I heard Toto's Africa more than once on the radio this week.  And, I left it on each time.  Their lyrics, "there's not a lot that can drag me away from you...nothing that a hundred men or more could ever do" really struck me.  Yes, cheesy, I know. 

Seriously, though, I do not want anything to take us away from one another.  I know that no one else will ever complete my life the way that you do.  We have learned about each other's quirks over the last almost 15 years.  I can live with yours and hope you have accepted mine.  I know I've had some times where things I've done haven't been right for us, but I have learned from my mistakes and have changed my ways.  I am wholeheartedly committed to continuing our life together.  I am also wise enough to know that we have done an awful lot of things right in our time together.  We would not have come so far if we were interested in making everything easy.  We know how much reward there is in choosing the difficult path.  We know that everyone and every relationship is, at least slightly, different from another.  We know how much work it takes to keep a relationship strong and healthy, so that it and those involved can grow and change over time.  Family, friends, and others will always try to monopolize our time and energy.  I think it's just a selfish part of human nature.  I promise you that I will not let anyone stand between us or try to pull us away from each other. I will stand strong, as one, with you.  Always.

It's in Your Kiss

As it is Valentine's Day, I was reading an article about kissing and a first romantic kiss is often a more powerful memory than another type of sexual encounter.  It got me thinking about all of our firsts and I really do have fairly detailed memories of our intimate firsts, first kiss and otherwise.  The thing that struck me the most, though, was that our first kiss is the only one I remember.  With only the exception of a memory of the first romantic kiss I ever received (a peck on the cheek), I really cannot remember a single first kiss with any guy except for you.  Not one.  That speaks volumes to me.  There were important guys (or so I thought at the time), who I would think would have left a lasting impression.  But they didn't.  I have no recollection of those first kisses, despite the article's suggestion that I should.  I know we were meant to be and I know that first kiss from you was the most important experience of my life.  You walked me out to the car and leaned over to kiss me, after what seemed like weeks of getting as close as possible, without a kiss.  Maybe I hesitated because I knew that, deep down, that kiss would change everything.  And, it did.  Thank you for the only memorable first kiss I've ever had.  It's the only one I'll ever need.

Your Love of Food

I love that you are excited about food.  You don't just appreciate food, you are truly excited about it.  I have to thank you for exposing us to all different foods from all different cultures.  While I'm not the most adventurous, you are instilling an appreciation for a wide range of foods in me and our kids.  It may seem like they are picky sometimes, but our kids are prosciutto-eating, Bibimbap-loving, chopstick-wielding eaters.  Not many Americans can say that about their kids. 

I am thankful that your grandparents and parents nurtured an open mind about food in you.  Not only did they teach you to eat whatever "odd" food was placed in front of you, they also caused you to respect where the food comes from.  I am happy that our kids seem to be following in your footsteps.