Thoughts on Valentine’s Day {Part III- Kind of}

So, today I was planning on writing on what my romantic life was like after Tony… That’s going to come later this month, after I share my Portsmouth, NH weekend-trip with Dennis.

But today is Valentine’s Day, and I thought it would be even more appropriate to share with ya’ll who my Valentine is.

Now, all of you readers know that I recently started a new relationship with Dennis, who I’ve been best friends with for about two years now, and have known and been on/off friends with for almost ten years. When we first starting dating, I was like,

“okay, let’s go with it. See what happens.”

Now, as more time passes, I become more confident in the fact that God definitely sent this one to me with great things in mind. Michael Elliot Dennis is probably the healthiest and most beautiful thing that has ever happened to me in my romantic life.

Since I was 17, I’ve probably dated one guy in every genre of guy there is. I’ve dated Christian men, I’ve dated non-Christian men. I’ve dated musicians, and I’ve dated merchant marines.

There were photographers…

And there were jugglers.

There have been Indian men…

And there have been Scottish men.

I’ve dated emotionally stable men…

And I’ve dated men who’ve ended up in psych wards.

I could go on…

To this day, as I’ve grown into adulthood, I have realized that they all share(d) one thing in common: Selfishness.

But Dennis…

He is probably one of the least selfish men I know. I have never been treated with so much unconditional love, respect, patience, and quickness to listen that lately, with all the hormonzies and daily stress in my life lately, I’ll start crying just because it has at times felt so unnatural for me to be a part of. I think it was early January when one day, I walked out of Dennis’ room, and he handed me some of my laundry, folded and clean… No one had ever done that for me before. I have always been the giver in my relationships. Sending packages and love-letters, ironing their shirts, doing their laundry, taking care of them when they’re sick, and giving them parts of me that weren’t meant to be given.

But I do not look back on any of it and say, “I regret that and wish that hadn’t happened.” Because all of those “mistakes” are a part of the person I am now. I have learned a lot of lessons the hard way. And I’m a stronger woman because of it. After several short-lived but fairly serious relationships, I became so independent and happy to be by myself because I didn’t have to deal with the anxiety of being in a relationship. Now I’m in a relationship with someone who adores me as much as I adore him.

And the relationship-related anxiety is no where to be seen.

The past couple days I’ve looked at my boyfriend, and I can’t help but smile. He makes me happy. The trust we have in each other is unbreakable. The communication-level we have with each other is insanely high, and I think that has a lot to do with the incredible friendship we have as a foundation.

And we have so much freakin’ fun together…

Happy Valentine’s Day to one of the most amazing men in my life- my boyfriend, Michael E. Dennis.

P.S. Thanks for putting up with the mushiness. I’ll make sure to not do too many of these posts, because they even make me feel a little sick.