It's -20 degrees in Milwaukee right now. Yes, we are officially in the negative digits pre-windchill! My love was born on this day 31 years ago, and despite the Arctic temperatures, this brings up warm memories and hopes for the future. It might not be as romantic as the birthday we spent in Paris, or as carefree as the one spent dominating karaoke with friends, but it will be just as special because despite all the things we faced in 2018 we are extremely lucky to have had eachother another year.
This past year has tested us both as individuals and as a couple; we've had some successes and some definite disasters in between those successes. There have been disappointments, losses and realizations. I quit a job and decided to pursue my dreams through a different avenue. Jarrett went back to school and found his passion; he has been working and going to school fulltime and performing really well academically. He found a drive that I never knew in him before, proof of pursuing something you love, and I am so proud that he will be graduating this May. His talent and creativity has been nothing short of wonderful to witness.
There were those not-so-wonderful moments I mentioned before...those moments where I found myself questioning why we had chosen to take on certain responsibilities? And why I decided to so predictably conform to this idea of "adulthood?" There were times I legitimately thought about completely re-engineering my whole life and finding an exit strategy. In those moments, even when our marriage was far from perfect, Jarrett was there to talk me down and help me see a path that didn't involve selling everything I own and moving to Paris.
I never felt like my dreams were really achievable until I formed a partnership with Jarrett. It's not to say that I didn't believe in myself, but I had never met anyone who dreamed like I did and instead of telling me it couldn't be done, or questioning everything, he would say "okay, how do we make this happen?" This is a true gift and something I value so much in him as a husband and partner. We have crazy ideas; sometimes they work and sometimes they don't, but we dream together and talk each other off the ledge when necessary.
I can't think of anyone with whom I would rather travel, talk, drink wine, plan, transform, design, create, EAT, cook, listen to Jazz, complain, watch The Office, own fur-babies and just BE. I get to be the real me with Jarrett, what a treasure that is? I'm so glad he was born and I know he will give me more to be proud of this coming year. I won't wish for a smoother year, that's a fool's errand, but here's hoping we are on a tropical beach this day next year!