Monday, February 14, 2011

What happens when opposites attract?...





Ben and I don't really celebrate the 'Hallmark' holidays; Valentine's day and Sweetest Day. Once he tried to lump our anniversary into that category, but the outcome to that is a whole other post (SPOILER ALERT...HE LOST). We are fine having just one day a year to remember to gush about our love (if he is reading this, it's July 1st). We show each other everyday how much we love and appreciate each other, in tiny little gestures (Me: packing his lunch, washing his clothes, raising his clone children; Him: coming home at night). So when I woke up this morning and spotted an envelope on my bathroom sink I was curious... was it a thank you card for getting that BBQ stain out of his good shirt? Was it something he needed me to mail out for him today? I opened cautiously (I assumed there was no anthrax in it, but I test his nerves often, so you never can be to sure). Inside I found the sweetest Valentine card (gasp) that said, "TO MY WONDERFUL WIFE. SOMETIMES I FORGET TO TELL YOU HOW SPECIAL YOU ARE. I DON'T KNOW WHAT I'D DO WITHOUT YOUR CONSTANT LOVE". Ah, hell! Since when do we get each other Vday cards? I got nuthin'! I'm sure there is a generic sympathy card in the office; could that work in this instance? When he came down to head out the door, I calmly told him that although I forgot to tell him last night, the brownies I made for dessert were actually his Valentine gift. I can't be sure, but I think he was calling my bluff!

In all seriousness... 20 years ago I hit the jackpot! This guy is awesome and never ceases to amaze me. He doesn't let many people see the Ben I get to have everyday. He is the smartest, and most caring man, I have ever met, and for some reason he picked me. What in the world does a 17 year old, all-American brainiac guy see in a not so smart party girl that takes nothing to serious? I still haven't figured out the answer to this question. On paper, we have not one similarity. In the real world, the only thing we have in common are our beautiful girls! Lucky for me, I quit questioning my good fortune years ago, and have just learned to love the fact that he still sees me at that goofy 17 year old girl he fell in love with all those years ago!

I joke a lot about my crazy life, but the truth is, NONE of it would have been possible without him. Although he drives me to the brink of many a Thelma & Louise moment (and I know the feeling is very mutual), he is still the greatest thing that has ever happened to me and I thank God every single day for giving Ben the tenacity to not quit pestering me for that first date. I also thank God daily that although on that first date I told him I DID NOT want anything serious, he changed my mind. I thank God daily that because of these two happenings years ago, we have the two most beautiful babies ever. And I thank God everyday that 'we' are still 'us'. I guess Jerry McGuire said it best... YOU COMPLETE ME!

I love you today and always, Ben!!!