Carol

Valentine’s 2019

Dear You,

I love you very much, and I thank you for loving me very much. It is your kindness and sweetness and sense of humor that makes this home a happy place for me. I appreciate all that you have taught me, like sneezing into my sleeve, turning on the right streets the right way and taking time to patiently fry eggs slowly so they are just right (well, I’m still working on that one), and eat slowly and savor my food.

I love how you love your daughter and granddaughter and watch over them and let them know in subtle ways how much you love and care for them. This includes the expected hug and kiss, offering your granddaughter a few dollars, saving change for her college fund, offering to pick your daughter up when she goes downtown to meet with friends, being a friend to their friends, making sure the house is maintained, making memories at your granddaughter’s elementary school, and always being there for them.

I love how you love and respect your mother and father. I love how you kept in touch with your sisters and watching how you sat close to your sister and rubbed her feet when we went to visit her. I love your almost lifetime friendship with your brother in law and how you “guys” are not shy about saying “love you bud” to each other. I love how your nieces and nephews (and their children) are always excited to see you and hug you and laugh with you. How one niece remembers going skiing with you and how one nephew calls you his favorite uncle and how another nephew proudly talks about how you taught him how to properly pour a beer and how he passed this knowledge on to his son, and fondly recalls you attending one of his high school performances and teasing him about the shoes he was wearing.

I remember how you sat on the curb on Main Street with your grandniece one afternoon when she came to visit with her new boyfriend and you had such a sweet and intimate conversation with her, like the two of you were the only ones there on that crowded street fair day. I remember sitting on the beach with you when you got a call from another niece, just calling to say “Hi Uncle”. You are a very good listener and people treasure that.

I love how gentle and patient you are with our dog and how you tenderly pull her ears and rub her tummy. I love how you gave in and let me rescue a kitty sister for the dog. I love how you go with me to church and hold my hand when we pray and then kiss me afterward.

I love watching how people at doctors’ offices and grocery stores light up when you walk in; they respond well to your smile and light heartedness because it is outside the norm of their, less than exciting, daily routine. I love how you never meet a stranger chatting with everyone you meet at the Farmer’s Market. And how people that you don’t quite remember, remember you being kind and friendly toward them.

I love that you were there when I was given an award and that you went to my sisters’ homes for holiday dinners and that you always encourage me to live up to my potential. You are a great partner and have always been there to comfort me. You make me laugh and let me know it is okay to cry when I need to and say “come here” and hold me when I do. And I love that you are a strong enough man to cry when you need to. You are my cheer leader, and I am so very lucky to have you in my life.

Happy Valentine’s Day 2019!

Me