To the one who, to me, is forever 40…
My man cooks; he also vacuums the floor, washes dishes, changes diapers, and scrubs the floor.
He wakes up at 6:00 a.m., gives the children their shower, keeps them presentable (at the very least) with fresh clothes, and then makes them breakfast.
I have a houseband, who also happens to be the family’s breadwinner.
How is that even possible, you might ask?
I don’t know.
I think I’m married to a Superhero.
Three years ago, I wasn’t keen about getting married and having a family. I got a house and lot in the town of Liloan, north of Cebu City (Philippines) to get ready for spinsterhood.
I was 25.
Too young to decide, eh? Not really. My mind and soul are older than my physical body. I have always felt I’m more mature than my age.
At 25, I was tired of dating. The failed relationship I encountered here and there are discouraging. There were stories of everlasting love that cropped up from time to time but they reduced to whispers in the cacophony of noisy break-ups and nasty annulment proceedings. So, I was decided: I am going to be single forever and will travel a lot in between until arthritis stops me from being an eternal wanderer.
But Jeff sent me a smile.
And then a love letter.
And then I found him standing at the arrival area of the Hong Kong International Airport close to tears, happy and nervous to see me.
In Hong Kong, I knew I had to say “goodbye'” to spinsterhood.
I always write that we didn’t have time be in a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship because the next thing I knew I was already calling him “husband” and that we were soon-to-be parents to twins!!!
Half-listening to him now, as he picks up the children’s toys while blabbing about one of his most favorite topics in the world, the Olympic movement, I feel at peace about that hasty decision to give up being single and embrace married life and eventually, parenthood.
How, in heaven’s name, did everything fall into its right place?
It must be the Master Planner from Up Above.
Others may say “the universe conspired”.
Or: “Destiny made it possible.”
Whatever it is, I’m thankful. So for your birthday, my love, my Jeffrey, know that you will always be my favorite Space Mountain ride – and that those times spent talking about money matters, career choices, relationship issues at The Peak and Victoria Harbour will always be etched in my stubborn heart.
Thank you for coming into my life and screwing up my plans because you gave me more reasons to look forward to what this life has to offer; to be more excited about what is to come. Thank you for always putting me on top of your priority list and for making sure that I get the best in everything even if it means giving up what you want. And thank you for being a world of opposites – strong and weak, aggressive and gentle, smart and stupid – because you make it possible for this woman with a very short attention span to be constantly on her feet, ready for anything.
You are wonderful.
Jeffrey, you will always be my favorite hasty decision.
Happy Birthday!
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T30WC or The 30-minute Writing Challenge is a writing exercise born out of this blogger’s need to maintain a habit of writing. Subjects of each writing challenge is just about anything but should ONLY be written within 30 minutes.
