Caretaking...

Right now, I'm lying in the cool darkness of a hotel room in Birmingham, Alabama, and you are, I think, helping to bring new life into the world. Have I told you how amazing you are, my heart? While I know your job isn't ideal just now, the work you do is incredibly cool. I love when you talk about it, and not just because your intellect is so damn sexy (though it is, lord). It's beautiful stuff, and so are you.

At its heart, your job is about helping people, same as mine. One of the places we resonate most is our innate drive to care for others, and that extends to us, as well. You take such incredible care of me, in every sense, and I will always do my best to take care of you, too.

We've both been in relationships in the past where we gave far more than we received, leaving us tired and empty. In us, though, we work as a team, nurturing and supporting one another, so that the necessary caretaking of a relationship doesn't feel burdensome. In fact, I'd argue it makes us stronger, because we also practice gratitude. So let me say, again, how grateful I am for you, my sweet girl. I love you, fiercely and dearly.