my favorite person…
The long road winds around, back and forth between trees, tunnels through the mountains, and carries us higher into the clear blue sky. We have the windows down because the airs feel so much cooler than it did down in the valley.
The wind is playfully entwining itself in and out of my hair…I can tell it’s becoming full of knots that won’t take well to brushing later. Right now, I don’t care.
Mike is next to me. He is in the drivers’ seat and as I look over at him I’m overcome by the man that he is…I reach over and touch the back of his neck. My mind fills with the memories of all that we have been through together. The early years of working multiple jobs to stay in college, the disappointment of dreams not realized and then the crazy joy we felt when they were miraculously fulfilled, finding out we would be parents for the first time, moving from one place to the next, caring for people that we never knew we would, sitting in a room while he gave a presentation on something he had put his heart and soul into, the wild and unexpected moment of finding out we would be having twins, making the trek across the country to the south, the sacrifices he’s made to take care of our family, the responsibility he feels and the dad he’s become to our kids, overwhelms me.
I know that I am so blessed by the depth that we have together and that, still, I want to be near him.
I still want to breathe in the smell on his neck, catch his eye during a conversation in a crowded room and know what he’s thinking, share things that probably only we think are funny, and of, course, quote movies…
I know that I’m lucky to have someone that realizes I need a hug before I am even aware that I need one, someone who knows when my day has been too long already (and his has, too) and still tells me to go ahead to bed while he finishes the dishes.
I’m blessed to know that of all the people on earth he knows me so completely and in that he loves me…still.
There is something about being together for 17 years that only time can bring. A comfortableness born of seeing each other in the most difficult days, most embarrassing situations, most heart wrenching hours, and the happiest moments.
And I also know he’s not perfect. But neither am I.
What feels like a million years and yesterday all at once, I remember my parents telling us that there would be hard times ahead (and there have been) and to: “Always talk to each other, never about each other [negatively] to other people.”
All of that I see in just a flash with my hand on his neck, the wind playfully whipping through the car, the kids laughing in the back.
He looks over at me and he knows I’ve become lost in thought. He says, “What?” With a look that says, “I know you.”
And I think, “How do I say all of that and still have it mean the same thing that I’ve just felt?”
And still…here…words are not enough.
9 Comments
beautiful davina! happy anniversary & what a blessing of 17 years. i pray one day the Lord will bless me with a love like you two share.
Thank you, April! You never know what life has in store. I certainly didn’t think that I would meet Mike. I’m sure life has plenty of wonderful things in store for you. 🙂
What a lovely post. I assume it’s your anniversary? (you would think I would know that) If so, Happy Anniversary! Those Fear boys are pretty darn terrific, aren’t they?
Hi Amy, It’s actually not our anniversary…yet. In November is our first kiss-aversary. (Corny, I know…) And I had hoped to write something then. And our real anniversary isn’t until the 16th…and I didn’t want to wait. So, I wrote it for no special reason, I guess since I’m between anniversaries. haha. And yes, those Fear boys are pretty fantastic! Thank you for the early happy anniversary!
WOW – what a powerful post, Davina! I had to forward it to the person I love most 🙂 xoxo, -melanie-
P.S. And this is what you can create when you’re under the weather – man alive, watch out when wellness comes!!
Thank you, Melanie. 🙂 You always make me smile with your kind notes. And congratulations again on your awesome new site! http://www.melaniemauer.com
YOU ARE VERY BLESSED AND SO IS HE TO BE MARRIED TO YOU!!! WHAT AN AWESOME RELATIONSHIP YOU HAVE ESTABLISHED ONE STEP AT TIME.
It’s true. I am so blessed! Love you!
Beautiful! Thank you for sharing this.