Letter to my husband

Happy birthday, Kitten! I hope that this day is good for you. As good as it can be, that is. Have an extra near beer on me.

A year ago, at your birthday party, you proposed to me on bended knee. It was a a wonderful moment and a terrific day. Even though we both knew it was coming, you were so nervous and I was so surprised. Some of our closest friends were there and everything was wonderful except the cheesecake I over-baked. The year since then has brought more changes than I could have known. By virtue of marrying you, I became a homeowner, an unemployed one to boot! I now live in the south and eat grits. I drove across country and saw many new places. I was lucky enough to spend a few hours in New Orleans. (I'm drinking coffee out of your Cafe du Monde mug right now.) I gained an incredible family and supportive friends. If a man can be judged by his family and friends, you are at the top.

The day you deployed was one of the hardest for me. I can't say it was the worst, though. You were in it. Your sister, Kim, thanked me for loving you the way I do. I thought a lot about that and realized I don't have a choice. If I did, this separation might be a little easier. But no, that's not the way it goes. I met you and I was a goner. Sure, you have your moments, but they are few and far between and currently nonexistent. And I know I've tested your patience once or twice. In the whole, you make me want to be better. Meeting you has taken me in a direction I never could have imagined and elicited traits and feelings in me that I didn't know possible. I feel like one of those sappy Blue Mountain greeting cards when I think about what this marriage means to me. A little embarrassing but not enough to stop me from telling you all this here. Because that's how much I love you! Sheesh. I just can't stop.

By my calculations, 38% of your tour has passed. I've tried not to think of how much time has elapsed and how much time is left. I'm buoyed a bit that more than a third is behind us. Hopefully the next time I figure it we'll be past the halfway mark.

I miss you terribly and I love you more than you know.

-Your Wife