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Tuesday, December 9, 2008

Four Years and Change

"I was going to ask you to play House, but I think you'd be a weird example for our children." ~ Susie from Calvin and Hobbes

***

Last week at dinner, The Boy and I were chatting over some Thai food and he said to me, "You understand me better than anyone else I know." He said it in such a sweet and sincere way that I wanted to jump across the dishes of food and give him a big smooch, but I restrained myself. I'll remember the way he said that for a long time. (Although sometimes I know him too well and it annoys him, like when your mom knows you're doing something naughty even though you deny it.)

***

Four years and almost 365 days ago, I met The Boy under circumstances that involved him thinking that I was British (and thus having a cute accent), that my name was Bridget, and that I looked good in a sweater (a la Lana Turner). Only one of those three scenarios somewhat resembles the truth.

The anniversary of our 5-year meeting is coming up next week, although neither one of us is quite sure of the exact date. I blew off an initial invite with him to see a Sunday matinee of Duck Soup (which he still mentions on occasion) and he was over two hours late to our eventual first date that might have been on a Wednesday (and that is what I counter with). But the rest of the "four years and change," as he puts it, has gone quite swimmingly, all things considered. Life with The Boy's been the best and brightest example in my life of where jumping into something (or someone) with total abandon and impulsiveness was the best thing I could have ever done. I can't even imagine what my life would be like without my Boy, all of these details that make up our days are like the colorful sprinkles on our Cupcake of Life:

He is all Brooks Brothers and I am all about $5 sunglasses and big rhinestone rings...
He loves Ealing Studios comedies and I love Stanley Kubrick (but we both agree on Billy Wilder)...
He'd throw me over for Carole Lombard (and I totally support him on that one), although he's the one that bought me the large vintage photo of Errol Flynn...
He has two expensive watches but is always late and I don't wear a watch but am compulsively early...
He's a Presbyterian and I am some sort of infidel...
He steals my fuzzy socks and I steal his t-shirts with the holes in them...
He likes Paul and I like George...
I've been to Paris, Venice and Buenos Aires without him but together we've been to a party at the Playboy Mansion and to Disneyland...
He bought the camera and I take the pictures...
He makes me laugh--a lot. I hope I make him laugh almost as much...

***

We always seem to be entertaining each other and not on purpose. Our life seems to be all about what happens when you could be surprised at any moment.

I look at all of our little quirks and our life together is like mish-mash of ideas and comings and goings, an intricate puzzle that wouldn't seem to harmonize but in fact meshes perfectly in many ways, on many levels. His neverending boyish charm and giant dimple suckered me, but it's his fine mind and genuine compassion that tethers my heart. Plus he's a good kisser. I'll probably get in trouble for saying that.

So here's to our random meeting, our random anniversary on whatever day we think it was, and to lots of years and "change" to come, Boy o' my Heart.

***

Photo of Harold Lloyd and Jobyna Ralston in a still from one of our jointly favorited movies, Girl Shy (1924). Thanks to Bill for directing me to DoctorMacro and the amazing images there.

22 comments:

robin laws December 9, 2008 at 1:05 PM  

oh i'm first here to congratulate you dear and The Boy too. Happy we-don't-know-the-day-but-it-is-somewhere-around-now anniversary!!!! it sounds a perfect match for you and obviously he could not love anyone more than you. ever :)

you had my heart at he first paragraph when you said: "He said it in such a sweet and sincere way that I wanted to jump across the dishes of food and give him a big smooch, but I restrained myself. I'll remember the way he said that for a long time." that says so much about you that i adore!

Anonymous December 9, 2008 at 1:42 PM  

I loved reading this. Happy Anniversary to you both, it's lovely when two people 'fit' so well :-)

will December 9, 2008 at 1:50 PM  

Ain't love grand!

ModernTanguera December 9, 2008 at 2:08 PM  

Fabulous! Congrats on weaving together your lives in such a lovely way!

julie December 9, 2008 at 2:24 PM  

aw, what a wonderful tribute to The Boy. (look, i even used caps!) happy random anniversary to you both!!

xoxox,
/j

p.s. can one be both a presbyterian and an infidel?

julochka December 9, 2008 at 2:26 PM  

weird, it used my new alias, when i thought i was signed in on the old..new blogs and all, disconnected from the old. now i'm me again.

Anonymous December 9, 2008 at 4:22 PM  

that's fantastic. made me smile to read your post.

Happy anniversary.

Dutchbaby December 9, 2008 at 5:45 PM  

Hmmm, four years and change? You were so coy! Michelle and I guessed anyway!

Congratulations to both of you!

Gill December 9, 2008 at 6:26 PM  

He sounds like a fine Mr.Tango if you ask me. What a lovely couple you make!
Mine would throw me over for Jessica Lange. That I don't support him on.
But Errol Flynn? Oh. My. God. Gorgeous.
xoxo

P December 9, 2008 at 7:25 PM  

Oh man, I think I love Mr. Dimples. He sounds like a peach. I'm so glad you found each other!

Anonymous December 10, 2008 at 6:57 AM  

this is my favorite post of yours you've ever written. i especially love the end note. whatever day it was, whatever year, however much change... i am bursting with joy at the love you've found in each other. congratulations beautiful tangobaby.

A Cuban In London December 10, 2008 at 8:06 AM  

Many congrats on your half decade together. Are you sure that he did not have 'Bridget Jones' Diary' in mind when he met you? :-)

Greetings from London.

christina December 10, 2008 at 9:26 AM  

Aww...I love it! Happy Anniversary! I send hugs to you both. I always get the tears going when you write about "the boy". I can just feel the love, through each word.

So glad we didn't have to round up the giraffes to bring him home. ; ) I would have gladly gone through the trouble though, to bring him back to you. Wink.

Sarah P. Miller December 10, 2008 at 9:34 AM  

This is so sweet.

Congrats on the time gone by, and here's to much more to come....

vicki archer December 10, 2008 at 10:07 AM  

Happy 'four years and change' anniversary - love this post. I am such a romantic.... xv

Yoli December 10, 2008 at 10:12 AM  

Oh how sweet!!! Happy Anniversary my friend! He sounds delightful. He gave you a picture of Errol come on? The man is perfect! You are together as long as I have been married to my husband. We met under very comical circumstances so there is something to be said about unique beginnings.

Enjoy!

d smith kaich jones December 10, 2008 at 10:15 AM  

What a perfect little love-you-baby tribute & howdeedo. And he does have that too-wonderful dimple!

Congratulations!
Debi

Blue Sky Dreaming December 10, 2008 at 4:31 PM  

Congratulations on your four plus years together. Laughter is the best glue in a relationship!!!

Blue Sky Dreaming December 10, 2008 at 4:31 PM  

Congratulations on your four plus years together. Laughter is the best glue in a relationship!!!

Laura December 11, 2008 at 8:08 AM  

Nice post! I love this "We always seem to be entertaining each other and not on purpose. Our life seems to be all about what happens when you could be surprised at any moment." To me, that's what it's all about!

paris parfait December 12, 2008 at 6:17 AM  

Happy Anniversary to you and the Boy. Long may you share such love, joy and happiness together. xoxox

Anonymous December 12, 2008 at 6:33 AM  

Congrats! Glad you made it!