LOVE and my steady date

      Remember when love was young and Valentine's Day was so anticipated.  'What will my love get for me or write to me in a romantic card?', I would muse.  Chocolates, roses, a negligee,  champagne or all of the above?  Those days were exciting with love burning hot and heavy, but after almost 26 years together, what I really appreciate is the constancy of my  husband, Dave, and his unending devotion to me and our children.
     Don't get me wrong, I still love a card filled with mushy sentiments, and a good and passionate tumble between the sheets, (sorry for my vulgarity, but it's the truth...I think I just heard my kids gagging...haha), but I know the real value of our relationship comes from the fact that we can count on each other, 100%, in good and stormy weather.  
     My husband and I come from a long line of people who stick together.  The first time I went to visit Dave's family in Iowa, back in 1986, they were celebrating his grandparents' 50th anniversary.  Both of my grandparents also celebrated their 50 year mark and so have both sets of our parents.  I'm sure we would all agree that that is pretty impressive in these times.  
      Love and passion are important ingredients to a successful marriage, but more essential is the mutual desire to have a lasting relationship, to be there for the big and the small things, the exciting and the mundane, where a common love of family is the tie that binds.
    How lucky am I, to have a man, the father of my 4 daughters, the love of my life, my friend and confidant, to travel through life with and grow old with, secure in our mutual love? Pretty damned lucky, I'd say.  

How do I love thee? Let me count the ways...
(I'll put down my top 10 out of a list of many more!)


1. Your physical appearance.  You are a handsome man.  I know that sounds shallow, but physical attraction is where it all begins....
 #'s 2-10 are the reasons I stuck.

Yow! See what I mean!

2.  The love and respect you show your family and mine.  You are a favorite to all your nieces and nephews, because you have always given them your undivided attention.  Both sides of our family hold you in high esteem because you are ever a loving, loyal and devoted son, son-in-law, brother and brother-in-law.


3. You are affectionate.  You still hold my hand, give me a kiss hello and goodbye daily, and give me a slap on the butt when you are feeling frisky. (I hear more groaning!!)

4. The way you looked at me when our first child was born.  I will never forget when we were in San Diego for Christmas Eve with our 3 day old first born daughter, Natalie.  We were resting in the bedroom with Natalie, the whole experience of becoming parents finally starting to sink in.  We were both looking at our child and crying and I knew then we could never part.


5. The way you listened to my daily ramblings when the kids were little.  Having someone to listen to all the little mundane nuances of my day helped me more then you can imagine.  To all of you fathers out there...doing this for your wife is a real life saver.  Just sit and listen and tell her she's doing an amazing job! She will feel validated and you will reap the benefits of "happy wife, happy life".

6. The way you embrace life with 4 daughters.  We've had people say, "Wow, four daughters.  What did you do to deserve such a punishment?" Even though you are a sports fanatic and would have loved to have a son, you have NEVER complained about having daughters.  One man in a house with 5 women (4  premenstrual/ menstrual girls and 1 premenopausal woman are a recipe for disaster) and 2 female dogs...not an enviable position for many men to be in...but you, my dear, have always made us feel there is no place you'd rather be than home with us.

7. I love that you always ask my opinion.  Being consulted on matters big and small, is a sign of respect and confidence in my judgement.  It makes me feel valued. 


8. The way you show your emotion.  Everyone who knows you, knows that you are a crier, just like your dad.  Whether it's a speech you're giving or a game we're winning or a touching moment you're witnessing...tears are sure to flow.  More than likely, everyone will be crying with you within seconds.  My brother Pat coined the term "blowfishing", to describe you in an emotional moment! Oh no, Dave's giving a speech...let me get some tissue first!


9.  How much you love to laugh.  Watching a funny movie or being in a humorous situation with you is the best! The more slapsick and vulgarity the better. You always laugh the hardest and the loudest!!


10. Your loyalty.  I love the way you've stuck with me through thick and thin.  You are my homebase, my comfort, my security...my steady date.

   

You are one hell of a catch, Divad Goose and I love you with 

all my heart!

Our wedding day, September 15, 1990

Happy Valentine's Day, my sweet.