A little over nine years ago I went to a little country & western dance place, at the behest of a girlfriend who likes to two-step. That night, I saw a girl I knew dancing with a handsome man who I’d noticed many times, but hadn’t gotten a chance to speak to. And I found my opportunity. I went up to said girl and asked her who she’d been dancing with. She was more than happy to introduce us. Ecstatic, even.
So she introduced us. We talked and talked. He asked me out. I turned him down. He gave me his number. I didn’t want to call him, so I gave him mine. He called the next night and asked me out again. My plans had canceled, so I decided to take a chance.
We saw each other every night after that. We were inseparable. Eventually, I moved in. In part, because I needed to get out of where I was. In part, because I was over at his place all the time anyway.
And now, we’ve been together nine years. We got married three years ago. And in November, we’ll have our first child together.
I love him more every day, even though I sometimes wonder how that’s possible, to love him more than I already do. Especially since I have a very short attention span. I do. And the fact that this man is so good to me, so kind, loving, funny (oh, the funny!), gentle, and genuine overrides my short attention. I can spend every day and night with him, and never get bored or sick of him.
I am a lucky, lucky girl.
Sure, I like time alone occasionally. I like to read uninterrupted. But I can talk to him about absolutely anything. And I enjoy him. Thoroughly. No, it’s not perfect. We’re not perfect. We get aggravated at each other. We fight over stupid things. But at the core is our love, and a deep abiding respect for each other. When the anger goes away, and we see reasonably again, there’s that love and respect reminding us how fortunate we are to be together.
I don’t know how I managed to find my soul mate in that big crazy world out there, but I did. And I am grateful every day. I cannot wait to introduce him to his child, and see his face when he sets eyes on him/ her for the first time. And I look forward to another 20, 30, 40 years—however many we are blessed with.
I am a lucky girl.
