25 Years and She Still Loves Me, and I Her

Imagine the amount of love that it takes to stay with someone who goes from provider and defender to becoming dependent on you. I have been a mess in the 12 years since my nervous breakdown, and my wife has largely raised our 7 children with minimal help from her partner for years on end. She stood by me when we were homeless, and through the loss of our home in a fire, and has had faith in me returning to who I was, even when I did not have faith in myself.

My wife, Cary, is strong beyond strong, loving beyond means, and my total rock amid a torrent sea of emotion. On December 28th, 2000, she took me as I was, and on December 28th, 2025, she is helping rebuild me, and we swore to each other to keep this love growing.

This year, all our plans for a nice dinner and evening for 2 went to pot because of nearly a month of missed work during vehicle problems in not one but 2 cars, and the last remaining funds in our accounts are going to get a newer used minivan and survive 2 weeks more until a paycheck.

We will make it up when my commissions come in for December in early January, but for the time being, I made her a placeholder for the memory yet to be made, a sort of digital keepsake I hope she enjoys as much as I think she will.

I forgot how I looked in a suit. I used to wear them all the time as a younger man full of ambition and goals. Now I don't actually own one, but I may have to buy one just to take a few photos.

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