After 13 years

I never thought I'd find someone I could be with day in and day out for any length of time and not get bored. Even when I was about to get married with James, I figured I'd have to take the occasional break—a few days away from him now and then to clear the works, so to speak. But 13 years later, with only a couple of breaks that were unavoidable, not by choice, I'm still not bored. Far from it. James is a persistently interesting guy. Even the "bad" times were interesting!

I also never thought I'd be able to let someone know me inside and out. And I didn't think anyone who got to know me inside and out would want to stick around. But James has been persistently intimate as well. He has persisted in knowing me deeper and deeper down, into those places where even I don't want to go. And he has encouraged my surface self to be more real, less of a mask and more of an expression of the true Dianne. I found this video on YouTube of one of "our" songs that renders this truth perfectly. Not only does the song have a long history with us and speak well to the reality of our relationship over the years, but this version puts side by side my outer and inner selves, singing together as one. James will know who represents which part of my self: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EsQYKO01nOQ

And lest I get too serious, here's another video of someone covering a song by Bob Franke that has become a standard for James and I to sing, though not this well! http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EIlPaajGge0

I love you, James!