To my sweet wonderful and wonderfully spirited woman, through these years together now I have had people ask me…” man, how in the world were you lucky enough to ‘get’ her?” My first response is always of course…I didn’t ‘get’ her – she is not a ‘puppy’ – she is a woman – she is my love, my heart - not a ‘belonging’.
I have thought about that question many times though as I am asked it more than once as if I am somehow “not deserving” – I’m sure in part because you are well…. breathtakingly beautiful and I, well…. I am just a quiet man, a rather reserved at least on the outside country cowboy.
I always had it in my mind that when we came to be on that long ago cold January day that you weren’t just looking for a “man” … Good lord knows you could have ‘any man’ that you might want. No…. what you needed was a warrior.
You see…as the phrase might go – you are the strength of Turkish coffee and sunrise – and you don’t pretend to be less than that – you don’t shy away from being a spirited woman – and why should you – just to make others comfortable? You are just as you are supposed to be – magnificent and stunning in every sense of the word.
I knew you had had your heart broken and I knew that you didn’t understand why it always seemed to never find someone who “truly” understood you, but I did.
You didn’t need a man, you needed a warrior.
It didn’t matter if I drove a Jeep or a shiny sports car and it wouldn’t have mattered if I had worn silk or cotton. It would not have even mattered if I worked in a high rise or the late night fireman shift.
What mattered is that when it came to taking bets on your heart – it was going to be high stakes – ALL the way.
You see the warrior in me didn’t shy away from your strength or your intensity – I loved it. I look at you and don’t see something to “tame” – but something to just fucking admire. I wasn’t the sort of man that would just “bend” though – you couldn’t just play with me and toss me away – I stood my ground – country boy or no… and you didn’t even try – and you loved me more because of it.
Because you aren’t just any woman, you’re a goddess.
Your fierceness of spirit brought me to my knees and still does every time I look into your gorgeous eyes, but the difference was and is – I’m not scared.
You met your match – because a simple man for you just won’t do.
You needed and wanted someone to match the fire in your eyes with your own – not only that, my beautiful woman, but me, this warrior of yours did and still does want to encourage the flames instead of trying to douse them with insecurities or petty expectations – because for you – a warrior is the only man who will ever live in the wild/spirited part of your heart with you.
I may not have to slay any dragons to earn your love, but I will walk through fire to see that amazing smile that you hold in reserve for only me. God am I blessed – beyond measure.
I used to wonder if maybe I was meant to be alone for the rest of my journey – but you changed all that. We were traveling along on our separate journeys and were doing an “okay” job at it – but all that changed on that January day.
Because baby when you and I collided – it began a love that was set on fire. You didn’t run and neither did I – I told you I knew your heart had been broken – and that you were used to things not being “real” – but I promised you I was different and asked you to give yourself time to see that – and you did.
You were and still are willing to see all of my fierceness as well. I know you don’t and won’t always need to “follow” me – I don’t want you to ever lose that fierce spirit inside of you – but, I love that your spirit doesn’t keep you from wanting to do nothing more at times than curl up in that spot along my side and forget the rest of the world exists.
I want you to always have the spirit about you to wander naked under a full moon if you choose – to drink moonshine with the stars – to let yourself feel the pull of the wind on your heart – and the sun on you- to always want new adventures together…because this warrior loves you because of your spirit and I want you to always keep it.
We are together now these years in this amazing, crazy, chaotic, wonderfully sometimes heartbreaking life – because it takes a warrior to love a goddess – and it takes a goddess to show a warrior what real love is.
I thank God every day that He brought us together knowing that we were destined for more “together” and that now is the time for us to see what all our dreams look like.
There is no stopping a love like we have …. the flame doesn’t flicker – it just always grows…. longer – brighter – deeper…. truly an eternal flame.
I love you, my spirited woman. NEVER change for anyone, especially me, for I am the warrior that loves you.
