The original J Mac

Before we met, I was disinterested in being married. Marriage was a great idea for other people but the concept  was not alluring to me. And then what initially began as a glimpse through a window only improved as being close to you provided an unobstructed view of your flawless green eyes and that square jaw I immediately wanted to run my finger along.  And I vividly recall all those early dates when the sheer magnitude of you turned me inside out. Unlike some situations, I knew exactly what hit me. And then a glimpse turned into an absolute I Do. And we learned quickly marriage is not like play practice. We felt with our successes before we met, we knew exactly how to navigate this new entity. And even more humorous is how we tried to negotiate with one another that our personal way in certain formats was clearly the. best. way. 

And when we found out we were pregnant and I immediately pondered if we were ready to be at this place, and more specifically would I be capable? Would I excel? You put your hands on me and said, "This is exactly where we should be. And you will shine." And later that night, I found a blue box from Tiffany on my seat in the car which held the most beautiful silver baby rattle that I will likely never part with. And now as we wander through the tide of couplehood and parenting, there is not a single person I would rather have in the water with me than you. 
 
You with that sexy salt and pepper hair, perfect chest, amazing biceps. Whose poor heart can only beat efficiently when properly caffeinated. Who wakes up too early every morning with your sleepy eyes and daily renewed wish that there would be no talking in our house before 10 am. Who patiently explained to our son why he need not be afraid of spiders but yet wasn't too manly to hide that the first time you saw our son hurt you were momentarily washed in discomposure.


You with your crisp, expensive collars, and gorgeous cuff links. Who has the perfect golf swing and seemed almost giddy to buy our son his first clubs. Who openly stated early on you will not clean bathrooms but does all the laundry and the dishes. I never pick up after you. You pour me wine as I pull in the garage on days you know I have worked too hard and too long. You, who will spend weeks planning surprise trips for me and go to 3 different grocery stores just to find an exotic ingredient I want, all with never once being asked.

You who came home one night with a gorgeous black outfit and said, "Put this on. We have a dinner date."

And you who gladly took our son to the driving range last night so I could flitter off to the Premiere Party of Sex and the City 2. Thank you. I fancied a night out and well, I liked this movie more than the first. 

And you, who came to me during one of the very rare moments you have seen me distraught and asked, "what can I do to make this day easier for you?"

You who sent me to Mexico for a week so I could finish my first manuscript while you stayed home with a ten month old baby. And you are the same man who has not a single hesitation saying to me I don't agree with you at all.  

I vow to always see you for who you are. And I promise to never assume I know everything about you.  

You have loved me when perhaps thinking about everyone else in this household first got tiring. Too little sleep, too many demands at work, and what we learned early on as parents that there is no greater responsibility we will ever have then being good leaders to our son. But we quickly learned the words freedom and spontaneity in our lives would have radical new changes in definition. But then I hear you reading to our son and using all the different voices he loves, and I know you are an amazing Father.

To you, the man who has made me palpitate and tremble. But admittedly, we are both strong and tough and there have been minutes when we felt perhaps we couldn't even look at one another.  But we always return to our favorable position. Through a glance, a kindness, some offering, or a late night twist and turn into one another.

And a few nights ago as we played guitar with our beautiful child and sang Tom Petty (very loudly I will add.) We were all so into it, the three of us such a motley band. But I took a mental snapshot and placed a very high value on such unhampered felicity. 

There are so many moments I hope to never forget. Happy birthday to the original J Mac. Giving you my heart was a very wise decision.