I remember vividly my husband of six years (today!) telling me eight years ago that his relationships have a five year shelf life (are you keeping up?) I'm glad he was wrong, and I knew he was wrong back then but chose not to argue with him. I just told him that I was willing to take the gamble.

I'm glad I did.

I'm not sure he signed up for what has gone on over the past three years, but he's been a real trouper about it. He used to be deathly afraid of hospitals, and now they're no big deal. I remember the first experience I had with him in a hospital was when his dad had an aneurysm. He had to stay seated because he kept feeling like he was going to pass out. Now he cleans up the blood and gore after head injuries and holds my hand in the ER.

He doesn't question my 'uniqueness' (nice word for it, eh?) and celebrates my successes. I've honestly never been with someone who accepts all of me like he does and it's really nice. I've always held back portions of myself in relationships for whatever reason, but now I'm free to be me. Even my awesome song and dance routines are met with applause and standing ovations. OK- I made that part up. He just (begrudgingly) puts up with it because he has no choice. I break into song and dance for no particular reason because it entertains me (and Einstein!)

I think we've been through more rocky roads in the last three years than most couples see in their lifetime, yet those experiences didn't seem so bad because we weathered it together. In the last three years, we've lost three jobs (two at the exact same time); BJ was in the ICU for a week; I've been in the ER for multiple head traumas and I've had two surgeries (with another one in a week). That's just in three years.

Every once in a while, when we're watching TV together- both of us with our glasses on and BJ with a blanket (because he's cold and I'm hot!) I get glimpses of what we'll be like when we (hopefully) grow old. It always makes me smile because I have no doubt that we're together for the long run. I feel safe with him.

Maybe we are already old- don't burst my little rainbow and unicorns world.

I knew it was going to be good, but I didn't know it was going to be THIS good. Thank you honey for the most awesome years of my life so far and the joy in knowing that there are more awesome years (even if things around us are rocky) ahead.