To Lauren on Valentine’s Day
I like numbers. That should come as no surprise to you. Today, there are a few numbers I want to tell you about.
953: Number of days we’ve been married. That’s two years, seven months, and twenty seven days.
1: I remember that first day like it was yesterday. I remember us sneaking away from the resort to get lunch (and shots of tequila) in town before the wedding, I remember getting under your dress ten minutes before the ceremony, and when you walked down that aisle, I remember hoping that you wouldn’t realize that I didn’t deserve you until after the vows.
4: You tripped down a mountain in Switzerland on our honeymoon. I should have expected that. What I didn’t expect were the dirty looks the innkeepers gave me when they noticed your bruised knees.
98: We drank tequila on that day, and congratulated ourselves on surviving our first three married months. I can’t remember why we doubted ourselves.
364: You brought home a mini-replica of our wedding cake on that day, and confessed to eating the anniversary slice that we saved in the freezer after a rough day at school. I really loved licking that frosting off you.
502: Three of your teachers went home with the stomach flu that day, and I taught first graders about triangles. It wasn’t until then that I realized I didn’t know nearly enough about geometry if I couldn’t explain it to six-year-olds. It was the most difficult thing I’ve ever done.
731: I watched you walking along the beach that day. I counted the freckles on your calves (I’ve always loved your freckles. Have I told you that?) We went back to Chatham for our second anniversary, and you were intent on finding some seashells for Judy’s new craft project, and I couldn’t remember what my life was about before you and your freckles.
899: That day was our third Christmas Eve together. There are many reasons why that day was memorable but it was then that I noticed how much you’d changed my family. You convinced Tiel that we’re all bark and no bite (well…maybe a little biting). Patrick and Andy are still Patrick and Andy because you wouldn’t let them walk away from each other. Erin likes you, and she doesn’t like anyone. You brought Will to Shannon, and that’s probably bad news for me, but my sister has never been this happy. None of this would have happened without you.
0: The number of times we’ve managed to celebrate Valentine’s Day without one of my siblings (or Nick) rearranging our plans. As you might have heard, you’re bossy as fuck. You’re adorable and perfect, and you’re bossy as fuck. Now, don’t misunderstand: I love your bossy ass. I also know you claimed you’d be helping Shannon pack her apartment this weekend, but I’m taking you to Vermont. We’re putting that obscene lingerie you have hiding in the closet to use and getting a legitimate Valentine’s holiday on the scoreboard. Get ready.
There are so many more days to come, sweetness.
– Matthew
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