How do I love thee......

Mike is it for me. The man of my dreams. We were an extremely unlikely couple when we first got together, with the age difference, different lifestyles, etc... but now our friends and families can't imagine us apart.

It seems that every day I discover something new about him to love. He's never completely predictable. He's definitely not who I thought he was when we started out; he's much, much more, and I love every facet. I've been with Mike for well over a year, and I still feel mushy/lovey-dovey/butterflies in the stomach every time I think of him, every time I'm with him.

He's determined and forthright. He says what he means, and he means what he says. Once he makes a decision, he sticks to it and follows through. He definitely does it at his own pace, but he follows through.

He's meticulous. If he's going to commit to doing something, big or small, he takes the time to do it right the first time.

He's funny as hell, and he thinks I'm hilarious. We're constantly laughing, joking, and gently bagging on each other. We can be ridiculously silly and juvenile, and we both have an evil sense of humor. People watching with Mike is a side-splitting occasion. His wit is quick, smart and sharp.

He never leaves the house, never falls asleep at night, and never hangs up the phone without telling me how much he loves me. He texts me randomly just to say I love you. We can be cooking, shopping, watching TV, whatever, and he'll just stop to tell me he loves me and give me a kiss.

He's very physical. If we're together, he's touching me in some way. He watches TV with his hand on my thigh. We sit at a bar or stand around at a party and he has his arm around me or his hand on the small of my back. He holds my hand when we're out shopping or going for a walk. I fall asleep every night wrapped in his arms. He frequently walks up behind me and kisses the back of my neck or takes my hand and kisses it for no reason at all. And the sex... I won't go into detail, but... SO amazing. Every single time.

He takes wonderful care of me. He makes me tea and soup when I'm sick, rubs my feet, legs and neck when they hurt, and rubs my back when I can't fall asleep. When I thank him, he simply replies, "I love doing that for you." He does the housework. He even cleans toilets. He takes care of my truck. He never lets me carry the bags when we go shopping. If I'm in the kitchen cooking, he's right alongside me, helping me the entire time. He never complains; he tells me that he does the things he does because he loves me and wants to take care of me. He's not in the least bit afraid of my neuro disease. He's seen me crawl because I was too weak to walk or too dizzy to balance, he's found words for me when I can't get out what I'm trying to say, carried things for me when I couldn't lift them, and it's never colored the way he sees me. He still thinks I'm strong and sexy, even when I feel weak and ugly. He treats me the same as he always does, and is even able to joke about it with me to make me feel normal.

Mike respects the hell out of me. He has never said an unkind word to me, EVER. Even when I've been less than lady-like, less than normal, more than evil, this wonderful man has held his tongue. Does he eventually say what needs to be said? Hell yes. But does he wait to say it until I'm able to hear it? Each and every time. He has never called me a name, I don't think even in his head, and he has never belittled me in any way. Has he said things that have stung? Oh yeah. But I needed to hear it, and he voiced it in a way that didn't destroy me. He protects my feelings, and he protects my ego, because he knows that my ego is HUGE.

He's always appreciative of anything I do for him. He never takes me for granted and never lets my efforts go unnoticed.

He's an amazing step-dad to my kids. He's very loving and patient, but he's also a strict disciplinarian. The kids rarely cross the line with him. Even when he disciplines them, the younger two usually end up on either side of him on the couch, cuddled up to him, watching a movie or something. For the older two, he's more like a trusted friend. They talk to him about their lives, and listen to his advice. If my son is having car trouble, Mike is the first one he'll call. They stop by occasionally for dinner, or just to hang out with us, and I love listening in on their conversations with Mike. I love him even more because my kids love him and he loves them.

Even though we've been together for a while, we never run out of things to talk about. After we put the kids to bed we turn off the TV, sit on the couch with a glass of wine, and talk... usually until well after midnight. He always has interesting stories, ideas and theories. When he comes home from work at night, the conversation immediately starts flowing and usually doesn't stop until we realize how late it is and go to bed.

He thinks I'm beautiful and sexy. I was worried about this at first; after all, he's 25, and the girls he was with before me were all young and hot and hadn't popped out four kids. Somehow, he doesn't see the stretchmarks and the loose skin. He tells me, "I only see my Baby, the beautiful woman I love." I never feel self-conscious, because everything he says and does makes me feel sexy and lovely. He notices what I wear, and compliments me. When I get my hair cut and colored he always notices. Well, half the time he can't help but notice because he goes with me to keep me company.

He wants to marry me. He tells me I'm the best thing that's ever happened to him. Truth is, he's the best thing that's ever happened to me. We complement each other, ground each other, help one another fly, keep each other honest. We can tell each other anything, even things that may cast us in a bad light, without fear of ridicule or recrimination. We can share fantasies, hopes and dreams without embarrassment. We very rarely argue, and when we do, we both know that we'll work it out and move on. There are no grudges, no repressed anger or resentment. If there is something bothering us, we know we can say it without hurting each other's feelings. There's no need or urge to be defensive. He will protect and defend me to the death, and he knows I'll do the same for him.

I frequently tell him that I'm the luckiest woman in the world because he's mine. He tells me that he's the lucky one. I think we're both incredibly blessed to have found each other and to be creating this beautiful life together.

Okay. I've been wanting to say all that for a while. Now that I have, back to my characteristic Bogurdine meanness.

By the way: Mike, Loveyouloveyouloveyouloveyou, Baby! Scissors!