22.

Just over a year ago S and I were here. 

It was such a swift, precious time.

In a bit over two months 

we will have been in one another's hearts 

for three years.

I did not know at 19 that I would meet a man who would

help, guide and nourish me so.

I honestly had the vaguest idea of what love was.

Even now, 33 months and a fortnight on,

I continue to learn from him every day.

Now that we live together and have purchased

Ikea furniture and an almost-cat*,

I am still astounded, yet a little scared, and overall

overcome by how blessed I am to have met him,

and allowed myself to fall in love with him.

 In no way was it hard to fall in love with him.

The thing with love 

- in my singular and limited experience -

is that it is truly free fall.

That late Spring, early Summer of '08 

I was constantly asking myself if it was happening.

In truth it happened a number of times in that period.

It has happened a million times since.

I love that he fulfills me to the point that

I now trust in the magic, infinite nature of growth.

Every day, even the nasty meh days, involve a sweetness

I now can't remember being without but cherish,

completely besotted.

I love striving to be better in every way, in small ways and big.

Making coffee, other foods and looking after myself spiritually.

Being more of a lover than a fighter now.

Stopping to appreciate little bits and pieces of our neighbourhood.

Ultimately, I know that it is neither my job, nor my obligation 

to make him happy.

But the love we share is such a positive honey pot

that it makes me value the healthful, inspiring and delicious things

this dreamy life has to offer in an alternate way

to what my life was up until I was given this gift.

Love is all, and I already had so much of it in my life before now.

But this sort of love is not tangible like those

and I understand the richness which has been 

bestowed upon me is strong, supportive
and, of increasing importance recently, accepting.

Perhaps what love truly is is acceptance.

*I say "almost-cat" as Phase Two of engineering

a cat is almost complete..

xx

...

Photo of Springbrook National Park via Google Images

- this is an amazing place for

a trip of any length.

The walks through the falls and lookouts 

are especially breathtaking..we didn't get to the Glow-Worm Cavern, 

sad panda!