... And Now, Marianne.

How does one begin to discuss meeting someone that at first annoys you because they are so light, so free, and so happy? Well, it begins by working with someone- sharing a desk. And then you get to a point where you begin to look at the other person and think, "Wow, what makes that person tick?" 13 months later, we're about as close as two people can get... Congratulations, Mr. and Mrs. Fleenor.

But Marriage is a funny thing. Sometimes one can be so close to another that the things you once appreciated seem to evaporate in the heat of argumentation, confusion, and sadness. At other times, the very thing that one loves about another person somehow becomes a point of contention. No matter how well you think you know someone pre-Marriage, the act of "becoming one" teaches us something new, reveals the unknown, and provides the opportunity to truly love the other- for Better and for Worse.

Marianne always wants the Best for me, and for our Family. That may be her best quality. She is always looking for a way to provide us with something unexpected, some undeserved gift, something surprising that makes us say "Wow." Unfortunately, we don't always have the means to provide that "unexpected thing", but hey, I love her for always thinking about us and always wanting us to be reminded of how special we are.

Marianne doesn't have a difficult time putting our Family ahead of herself. She is always thinking about what is best for us, for the kids, and for me. Sometimes it makes me sad, because I wish that I could provide more and give more time for the things that M wants for our family. Marianne is always looking ahead to next best thing for our family, and we are better because of it. She is always trying to clear the way so that our family can experience the best that Life has for us. Whether it's packing my clothes, making reservations, or packing that extra thing that we probably won't use, M is always trying to ensure the most joyful experiences for us and the kids. Who can fault that, right?

Another quality of Marianne's that I frequently enjoy is her forgetfulness. I know you're thinking, "No way, I'm sure that drives you crazy (ok, you're right; when it's the keys, the credit card...)." But when it comes to my mistakes, Marianne is the most forgetful person I know. Except for leaving early from our wedding reception and making her wait 5 years (ok M, six actually) to have our three beautiful kids, I can tell you that she's NOT reminded me of any of the other million things that I've done wrong over the past 13 years. She's so forgiving and understanding, and for this our marriage is much better.

Unfortunately, being married to another person really takes its toll on you. And marianne is not the same jovial, happy-go-lucky, bubbly person she once was. It makes me sad sometimes because I truly believe that I've played the lead role in shriveling M's fun-loving spirit. Yes, I'm the penny-pinching miser who never forgets anyone's mistakes and always kills everyone's joy by reminding them of everything that could go wrong. Thankfully, 13 years of being around marianne has had a positive effect on my soul, and I'm not the same "tightly wound" person I was then. For better and for worse, I'm still "loosely wound", but I'm hopeful for the next 13 years, and I'm thankful that i will spend them with you, marianne.