SWAK: My Valentine Letter to my Husband

Dear Kevin,
The truth is we were never "supposed" to get together. We were certainly never "supposed" to last. Everyone said so. After all, you were that guy who was always looking for fun, always looking to get into a little mischief. You smoked. You drank. You stayed out late. You were THE bad boy.

I was the always-conscious-of-how-important-this-was-to-my-future girl. I was forever concerned about grades and homework and being good. I knew my plans for the future. I didn't think about nonsense that might deter those plans. Then, I had a "mini-meltdown" and met you.

We were good for each other. You taught me to be a little wild. I taught you to set goals. You taught me that no matter how much I planned, life just kind of spontaneously happened. I taught you to care more for another's happiness than your own (as you taught me).

We fell in love when everyone said we were too young. We got married, and everyone said it would never last--we were too young. They were right--about the too young part. We were too young, but it has lasted. . .for over 10 years now. We were too naive, but we've gained wisdom and experience. We have laughed and we have cried.

We've been through some really tough times. I didn't think we'd ever get out of that first apartment we were in. OH! And remember when I rented the house full of roaches?! Then there was the Valentine's Day you gave me the sad, droopy aloe vera plant that you snagged at the last possible moment. . .

We have survived parents divorcing, parents remarrying, a parent's death, fairly "odd" family members becoming officially certifiable, deaths of loved ones, deaths of friends' babies, college, graduate school, night shift, being "welfare poor," being just above welfare poor, bounced checks, lies, births of our babies, sleepless nights with our babies, roommates (never again!!), friends taking over my kitchen (Hi, Adam!), James Dean neighbors, tequila nights, fast food jobs, unemployment, bad housekeeping, parents' heart attacks and other assorted medical crises, weddings, funerals, bad cooking, serious weight gain (obviously not due to bad cooking, right?!), working away from home, depression, roughly 1400 flat tires, a ton of laundry, piles of deer meat, stacks of unfiled pictures, the death of your best friend, a son that appears to be a clone of my dad, a red-headed daughter, snow skiing, a freak New Mexico blizzard, being stranded on the interstate, bad Chinese food (here, kitty-kitty), vacations with the parents, changing a million dirty diapers (me), cases of beer (you), a few (!) fights, and a gazillion laughs to be where we are now.

I wouldn't trade a minute of it. Through it all, you've been my lover, my guardian (at times), my protector, my confidant, my sweetheart, my challenger, my alter-ego, my children's father, my strong arms, my handyman, my fellow dreamer, my mechanic, my sounding board, my hunter (and when that didn't work, my gatherer), my provider, my breadwinner, my supporter, my cheerleader, my encouragement, my redneck : ), and most importantly, my best friend! I love my life, and I love you. You make each day tolerable. There is no one else I'd rather laugh with and love.

Love,

Rachel

PS After seeing the mess you cleaned out of my car last weekend, I know you love me, too!!