In honor of the Fake Holiday that was created by the Industrial Military & Love Complex and the Greeting Card Oligarchs I wanted to talk about The Saint.
He has earned that moniker so many times over in our relationship and I can tell you I would have already lost my mind on this journey if he wasn't by my side or holding me up - although he would say there wasn't much there to begin with; he is also the Chairman and CEO of Putzville.
He would be mortified by this but can suck it up buttercup. As I keep reminding him...human emotion is a good thing.
When we first met I assumed he was around my age. It wasn't until our second date and he got ID'ed that I realized he was 15 years younger than me (he could legally drink so sit down all you Karens). I don't know how that slipped through my screening and at this point I tried to run but the little zygote had wormed his way in.
I was intrigued and hooked. He came into my life at a time that I had stopped looking for The One because even though I grew up in the golden age of romantic comedies - I knew that they were just that movies. Didn't happen in real life. Fairytales and happily ever after were for losers. I had been through heartache and had relationships that Taylor Swift could write whole albums about.
And then he walked in. Tall, handsome, an infectious laugh & giggle, down to earth, funny, loving, loyal and a complete asshole at times who lives to push my buttons. The perfect package.
He's calm. I'm full on Irish.
He's organized. I'm messy and chaotic.
He's meticulous. I'm big picture.
He's practical. I'm a dreamer.
He's never held a grudge. I'm not ready to make nice.
He's kind. I can be a dick.
We both hate mushy stuff, fakes, drama for drama's sake, idiots. Love queso, steak, movies, smart tv shows, certain family members, sports, being outdoors and would both rather build something or renovate the house than go to a club.
I proposed by waking him up one morning on my way to work and asking "hey, you want to get married?"
"Yeah," he said. Then went back to sleep. We were married in our kitchen by a very good friend of ours and then went for Mexican food.
You get it. We don't complete each other - don't even get me started on how dumb that statement is - but complement each other.
I thought I loved him more than anything until Lil Bit needed help and then my aunt got sick with terminal lung cancer.
He planned and oversaw the renovations to Momma's house to make it handicap accessible so she could stay in her beloved home as she got older and went downhill.
The Saint took Momma to every one of her sister's doctor's appointments and treatments. He would make my aunt laugh when it was too much to handle. He helped hang Christmas lights for her when she was dying knowing that she loved Christmas.
When Lil Bit got sick he was ok with delaying our wedding party. Twice. And then laughed it off when I put the wrong marriage date on the invites. When she needed more and more help he put his career on hold to help care for her.
He has given up so many holidays, trips and events due to caring for my mom or being by my side. He's called me from many a doctor's office to let me listen when I can't be there due to work.
He has helped Momma with projects that he thinks are flat out insane just because he knows it will make her happy. They get into trouble quite often and he's made her house into a home for her as she approaches the end and has filled it with photos to help her remember the past.
He built her a "convenience store" in her bedroom because going to the kitchen for drinks is just too far. And always takes her for car rides to grab a sweet tea. He's put having kids on hold for a while so we can help her through to the end.
And while he may want to murder her and me...and it would be quite justified, his patience with her is infinite and makes me more patient with Lil Bit. He's spread ten pallets of mulch because she asked and fixed the mobility scooter oh so many times after her abuse of it.
He can make me see the truth about her condition because he doesn't have the blood tie, but loves her in his own way.
And with each thing he does for her my love grows deeper.
Because nothing makes the heart swell more than selfless in action.
A perfect example of the trouble that Lil Bit and The Saint get into. He hung wire from the beams so her sweet potato vines could grow up it during the winter.
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