It's Like A Card, But Digital-ier!

So every year for the last four years, this day has marked the day that Lacey and I first got together. I know the idea of an anniversary-of-dating might seem like a silly idea, but when your relationship lasts longer than some marriages, it seems a bit more appropriate. Anyway, we usually give each other home-made cards every May 24th, but since Lacey is now living with me and the office printers are less than adequate, I decided on something a little more unconventional -- a blog post. So don your mushy-goggles and let's do this thing!

Dear Lacey,

We're so completely old now. I remember four years ago, still in high school and living at my parents', and all we really paid attention to was each other (annoying quite a few people along the way). We were attached at the hip, seeing each other pretty much every day. I don't know if I'd call it love at first sight (because the whole principle behind that is stupid and a lie), but we definitely hit the ground running. I knew after only a couple months that I was in love with you, and in typical 'me' fashion I didn't hesitate to tell you. I'm glad that didn't scare you away.

After a couple years, the real world kicked in, and suddenly you were in the nursing program and I was either incredibly busy with work or incredibly unemployed. Usually this is around when most people realize it's not meant to be, with the whole "I'm an adult and want to see what's out there" thing. Luckily, neither of us are really like that, and I had already made my decision that I wanted to be with you for the rest of my life. Even with real life sinking in, our relationship adapted and we made it work.

Speaking of, I don't know many couples that could have survived what we did this last year and a half, especially at our age. Living six hours away from you is probably one of the hardest things I've ever had to do. Seeing you every month or so was both the best and worst time I've ever had. Best, because I got to see my lovey again. And worst, because I knew it was only going to be for a few days. But those early months when we cried after every time we had to part isn't what scared me. It was later, when we had become so accustomed to only seeing each other every few weeks that we stopped crying. I'm glad that's over, because god DAMN that was hard.

Now that you're living with me, I know things are better. I'm so happy to be able to see you every morning when I get up, and every night when I go to sleep. Times are crazy again since we are all up in the air with my stressful job and you starting at a new school, but things will slow down again. And when that happens, I can only promise what I've promised you since the beginning: to be yours and love you forever and ever.

Happy Anniversary Lovey <3

Response to a friend

Breaking up my counter-point into 140 character snippets seemed unwieldy, so I have instead opted to follow suit and post it here!

The following is in response to http://tehcaitzorz.tumblr.com/post/5758450385/part-2 :

I concede to your point of view, with the caveat being that when you mix college kids and alcohol, provocative attire makes it easier for an otherwise non-rapey guy to rationalize it as a signal for "yes". When the girl is lucid enough to say "no", then it goes back to being black-and-white, but what if she's too drunk to voice that opinion, and he's too drunk to realize that she isn't totally into it? That can happen regardless of attire, but I submit that dressing 'slutty' only makes that situation more volatile. In that sense, this situation CAN be seen as similar to venturing into dangerous neighborhoods wearing fancy clothes. Walking into a sexually-charged environment wearing provocative clothing and eliminating the ability to think straight is inherently a bad idea. By advising against wearing a three piece suit to the Bronx I am not condoning gang violence, I'm just trying to keep people from getting shot.

But again, for the every day I agree with you. There is no written law regarding what is provocative (in this country anyway) and I see that freedom of thought as one of the finest aspects about this country. So yes, walking around naked shouldn't give any one a pass to rape you, and no one should be allowed to place a hand on you (except the aforementioned officers =]), but doing the same thing at a college party whilst inebriated is still not a good idea (unless you're into that kind of thing, in which case WHY WASN'T I INVITED?).