An Open Letter To Marvelyne On Her Birthday

Dear mE, The Hottness, the Divine Ms. M, my wife, my partner, my best friend:

You were the first person to say the phrase “Warts and all” to me. How I reached my late 20s without knowing this phrase is unthinkable. We’ll blame it on our upraisings on different sides of the Mason-Dixon. Warts and all. That’s how I love you. And, because this is an open letter, for the record, there has never, EVER been a wart on your body!

You have taught me more than this letter can hold. It couldn’t have always been easy to be my teacher, but every painful step along the path, you’ve been with me. An immature, impatient, egotistical fool is what you found a decade ago. The process isn’t complete, but I have you to thank for every advancement in our lives, together and individually

You’ve shown me unconditional love when it wasn’t deserved. You’ve stood up for me when I didn’t have the ability to do it on my own. You’ve literally and figuratively saved my life. You’ve given me the gift of your children and babystepped me into being a stepfather; something I’ll always count as one of my greatest accomplishments. You are the partner for whom I prayed for years. You match me. We are yin and yang…but better. Like, with psychedelic colors and bling. I have one priority in this world and it is you. Everything else is a very, very distant second. You are loved unconditionally and forever.

I first learned “you” like everyone else and discovered an intelligent, compassionate, rational and selfless person. That is you, but what I learned along the way are all the other little details that make you the most incredible person I’ve ever known. I love that you’ll be the girl at the gun range with manicured nails, diamond earrings and a .357. I love that you can be comfortable at a five star dinner or a Lynyrd Skynyrd concert. You’re able to explore deep, introspective and painful thought processes, then turn on Squidbillies and laugh your butt off. I love that you get so furious when you see an injustice committed against another human being. I love how you can be spitting mad at me and still, in the midst of an argument, you can tell me you love me. I love that you always let me listen to Outlaw Country when we’re driving. I love that you can go to Barney’s in NYC, but that you enjoy the treasure hunt at TJ Maxx just as much. I love the efforts you make with your family. I love how open you’ve been with your “new” biological family we’ve discovered this year.

Like you, I don’t fear growing old. As long as I’m with you, I fear nothing. And I hope I can, in some way, return that courage to you.

Here, on December 1, 2012, you have my thanks, my gratitude, appreciation and wishes for the best year of our life…warts and all! Happy birthday!

Dork,

Marc