Happy Valentine’s Day to my wife of 35 years

As we celebrate our 37^th Valentine’s Day together this year I have to say that you are still my best friend and my soul mate.  I look forward every night to coming home from work to see you and hear about your day.  I truly enjoy the time that we spend together whether we are on trips or spending the evening walking around stores (yes even Christmas Tree Stores!)

I freely admit that 37 years ago I may not have been as ‘in love’ with you as I had thought, but I did know I wanted to spend the rest of my life with you.  I do know now that I love you so much more now than I did back then.  Even though we both looked ahead to our future with such anticipation, looking forward to retirement with you now is even more exciting.

We have been through a lot together over these 37 years, but for the biggest thing is we were together.  Even those years when you were in Bethel taking care of your Grandmother, we were still very connected.  We have hit highs with the birth of both our daughters and the lows in the loss of our parents.  Again, we hit both the highs and lows together (even if I did smell like peanut butter when Elisa was born).

There were times when we both got so angry with one another that one of us took off for awhile to have some time to our self to think and be angry.  But we always came back and made up.  We did so because we wanted to stay together.

Some people really questioned our getting together because to them we were nothing alike.  It did not appear we had the same interests or friends.  Now 37 Valentine’s Days later we still do not both have the same interests or friends totally.

But that is what helps keep us unique and hopefully interesting.  We both are willing to open ourselves to new interests.  Sometimes they are something we can share together and sometimes not.  Sometimes we are willing to be involved in the others special interest because it is the others special interest.  Other times we really do not want to have anything to do with it.

For any that may ask how we have survived together for so long, I have to say it is because we are each others best friend.

As you are well aware it has not always been roses.  There have been some very tough times but also some really great times.  I remember most the great times but also remember the bad but think of them less often.  Through both you have been there with me.  Together and with God’s help we did face them all and have made it through.

What I hope I am trying to say is I am more in love with you today than I was 37 years ago and I really do look forward to spending the rest of my life with you.  As I said you are my best friend, my complement, my soul mate.  Without you I would go on but it would not be anywhere near as fun and exciting.

Happy Valentine’s Day My Love.  Always and Forever – Paul

All You Need Contributor: Paul Doucette

Every little girl learns about love from the house she grows up in.  My parents taught me that I deserve nothing less than a perfect-for-me love that is not perfect by any stretch, but at the end of the day it is a love that you cling to and makes you a better person.

I learned that from not only seeing them in love but also being loved by them.  Mims and P-Diddy, Happy Valentine’s Day to you!

Song (Chosen by My Dad): The Carpenters – Close To You