It's been quite a ride, hasn't it?

Days and weeks and years piled one on top of the other. Layers of school and moves and careers and houses, children and dogs and cats, dreams and hopes and crushing defeats, rallying cries, frayed tempers, love renewed, forgotten ideals, lifestyle changes, businesses and fresh starts. One layer on top of the other to build this life, our life.

18 years. Do you remember my lips on your neck, that fateful night? I see that smug look! You know I'll only own up to it this once.

It was destiny. What else could it be? The angels unveiled their plans for me that night. Revealing you, my other half. Yin to my yang, Laurel to my Hardy! We've had some laughs haven't we? Children tucked in bed, blissfully alone, in the dark giggling into the wee hours. Who else would understand 'Marmalade!' or the odd combination of Bugs and Monty Python? The best of friends, you and I.

18 years. Pictures, impressions, streaks of colour, yellowing with time, flash before my eyes.

Walking in the rain holding hands.

Driving that ridiculous car for five long, bumpy, heart pounding hours.

Learning about life and death in foals and kittens.

Idealistic youth thinking we could take that rundown house and turn it into paradise and then doing it.

Changing horses in mid-stream, moving from what we knew to a life we could only imagine.

Watching you with terror as you lay motionless in the hospital.

My life is you.

I can't separate our pieces, so entwined have we become.

I feel more comfortable with you than anyone else in the world.

I would go to the ends of the earth for you, my love ... and back again.

You are the only one.

18 years? We are forever.

August 24, 1980

Jen