I Guess If You Hang Out With Guys Long Enough You Can Catch Them Between Wives...

Below is a recent letter I wrote to my dear friend Jim.

OK Jim,

I really want to know how you are and ask about what you are doing and tell you how much I appreciate you and care for you but I can't.  I can't seem to do anything but stare at my ring finger.  

It is him.  You know, my computer genius.  The guy I just called one day and said, "Hey, let's get it on." You know, the guy who got married then widowed, then married then divorced.  The guy who was my friend then my lova then my friend again and now my lova...   :)  That guy.  The guy I have passed years and years with since 1996.  The man I have cried and laughed over and talked endlessly about with you.  ...  Him.  Well, we're in love.  We recently talked about making things permanent.  So that's what we did.  We have decided to be together fo-eva-ish.

So anyway, on Valentines day he took me to this place by the river where we picnic and talk about life and the future and whatnot.  He got out of the pickup and called me to the back to help him with something and right there he got down on his knees in the mud and the rain and asked me if I would accept him.   

It was a bit surreal because I knew he was going to at some point but I had no idea he would kneel in the mud.  I, kind of, love him more for that although if you are going to suffer I think kneeling on broken glass would have proved more of a point than the mud and the rain.  ....  kidding... 

So I savored the moment.  I permanently imprinted the look of this 6'2" man kneeling in front of me with his blue coat covered with raindrops.  His face was wet and when he would try to open his eyes he would get rain in them and have to squint. 

He said what he had to say and held the ring out to me on that gray day.  We both knew I was going to say yes but I waited just a second or two longer than was comfortable so I could live the moment again and then relive it again and of course, try his patience a little... but he held strong and I said yes.  Then I kissed him.   

Then I told him he couldn't get back in the truck until he cleaned all that caked mud off his pants.  But he figured out he could just take them off and get in so we could make love like kids on a country road.   

I love you Jim...
I will write more soon but I just had to share my joy with you.  Hope this note finds you and yours well and happy. 

<3 Patty