01/12/2012 The Jersey Girl, Audrey Beem

So who were you kissing at midnight on New Year’s Eve? That seems to be a big question every year.
I was kissing the same man that I’ve kissed for the past 20 years. That’s 20 years of living together; 1,040 weeks of co-habitating; 7,300 days of saying good morning; and millions of kisses.
Russell and I will soon reach a milestone, our 20th anniversary. And I hope to be kissing that man every New Year’s Eve for a very long time.
Has it always been easy? Definitely not. Did I think we would make it to this point? Yes and no.
Chris Rock says if you love somebody you have thought about murder, and although he’s a famous comedian and I’m sure that joke got plenty of laughs, there is also a bit of truth in it, don’t you think?
We have had extreme highs and extreme lows. We have cheered for each other through awards and accomplishments, hugged and screamed through kids and grandkids, and nursed each other through all kinds of illness and injury. We have also endured the biggest test of all, the long downhill trek after losing a child, and then climbing our way back up somehow.
Know what my husband’s best trait is? It’s that he loves me.
As I sit here writing this with tears in my eyes I know in my heart that that is the one true thing that has kept us together – not my love for him, but his love for me. For there is no greater feeling than knowing somebody truly loves you. That somebody thinks you are the best and would do anything for you. Everybody deserves to feel that at least once in their life.
He was the one that said the right words when I lost my job. He was also the one that gave me the confidence to pursue new dreams and goals I wanted. He thinks I look like J-Lo – love is most definitely blind.
I don’t believe in fairy tales or the stories we tell as young girls about the princess waiting for true love, but Lord knows I’ve kissed a few frogs along the way.
There was the guy who pursued me for months and then once he got me, he decided he didn’t want me. There was one time I had the best first date ever, but then never heard from the jerk again. The time I thought the guy was hitting on me, but he really wanted my best friend. Of course, there’s the man I dated that lived in a travel trailer and had two DUIs. Yeah, he was a real keeper. Oh, and the time I thought I was in a great relationship, only he was also in a relationship with his wife. Run, Forrest, Run!
Oh those were the good ‘ol days – not!
Until my handsome prince came along and saved me or maybe I saved him. It doesn’t matter. All that matters is that both our lives are better for it.
I was a single mom, working three jobs and living in a tiny apartment. Russell was a drifter, going from one job to another and never worrying about the future. But boy, look at us now.
Have I mentioned how totally opposite we are? We both love our home and our family. And the oppositeness has seemed to work. We actually complement each other, he encourages me to clean and I encourage him not to spend every penny we earn. It’s a give and take relationship. What’s mine is mine and what’s his is mine. I joke of course.
So I’d like to say Happy Anniversary to my hubby. No, the vacation to Hawaii that we planned is not going to happen but I’d be happy with you in a motel in Ocala. We can save the big trip for our 40th. See you there!