How many times in our life have we ever heard someone say something along these lines:

"Today is our one month anniversary since we became a couple."

I don't know about you but I can barely contain my laughter whenever people say something like that. Not that I'm a sadistically cruel person that would have nothing better to do than take bets on when people break up for my own amusement. Not always anyway. It's just that for the longest time, I do remember the word anniversary to mean "the date on which an event occurred in some previous year". In no way does it mean in the weeks and months that you started something you don't know is going to be any significant in the long run. That doesn't make any sense.

Maybe it's just the reality of relationships catching up on me. Maybe it's just the twinge of cynicism about things. Maybe I'm just too old for to count my chickens before they hatch. I know it's cute and all to celebrate a relationship that way, I just think that doing something special in the weeks or months to celebrate the date you were together isn't just a waste of time, more often than not it's a waste of money. Last I checked, it's still money that gets you places in life…not love.

Does that mean I lost my sense of romanticism? Not really. I just happened to outgrow that phase where you would have more time for that kind of love than you have time for other responsibilities in your life. Sometimes you don't have to place importance on dates just because it's special. Sometimes you have to realize that everyday you do spend with the one you love is in itself…a special day. One not marked by gifts or generously candlelit meals, but one marked by the actions that you're able to accomplish together as a couple right there, right now

That being said, today is a special day for me. It's the day Mel kissed me for the first time. The day set in motion the course of events that would ultimately lead to me making the decision to push forward my career and stay here and ultimately giving us a chance to be together.

So here is to another year like that. Another year of wondering. Another year of living life by the porch with beer (and bourbon) in our hands. Another year to secure our financial life. Another year of hardship well worked out. Another year of joy well deserved. Another year of betting to see which of us wins whatever it is we bet on. Another year. Another future.

I'm not going to pretend to know where we'll be by then. But I do know what I'm going to do today and that's all that matters. Ahh the joys of a relationship. Sometimes it's another way to bleed, other times it's just one headache after another, but most of the time, that's just the way you love it and wouldn't have it any other way.