MVP

I’m the first to admit that I’m pretty bad when it comes to remembering and remembering to care about my wedding anniversary. It’s inevitably around Canada Day—July 1—when it occurs to me that I got married the weekend between July 1 and July 4. Then comes the part where I try to remember whether the wedding was on July 2 or July 3. When I’m relatively confident that I’ve landed on the right date, I ask my husband what he wants to do to celebrate. We both feign enthusiasm and plan something low key but still special. On the day itself, we might exchange cards and play an extra game of Boggle or something, but we otherwise revert back to our normal evening routine.

I don’t think that there’s anything wrong with our approach. It works for us, after all, and I secretly like to believe that the fact that what makes us happiest is what we sink into almost every night is a good sign, not a bad one. We’re comfortable, willing, and able enough to express our love and gratitude for each other on a regular basis, and neither of us has a real need to tire ourselves out in the name of bigger, more expensive confirmation that we don’t regret getting married (please note that my attitude toward my birthday and Christmas is quite the opposite).

Still, it’s hard to let the day pass by without using it as an excuse to publicly praise the most praiseworthy of partners. 

Twelve years ago, we threw a really big party for the people most important to us. In a magical bubble of family members and friends, we signed some legal forms and exchanged rings. It was the beginning of the best days of my life.

An incredible amount, much of it inarguably negative, has changed and happened since then. Therein lies the magic of a supportive, loving relationship, I guess. We’ve experienced milestones at both ends of the spectrum ranging mind-numbing awful to mind-blowing awesome, yet our relationship has only deepened with time. Not only has my husband stuck around, but he pretends it’s no big deal that he makes deep sacrifices for me. For us.

I don’t know how I got so lucky, but I do know that I couldn’t love or appreciate him more. Though we’ve won a couple of championships together, he’s the MVP of Team Stay Alive and in Love (roster of two, not recruiting).