An Anniversary

I don't want to dwell because I have other things to share, but it looks like I didn't get the job in Long Beach. So, we continue doing what we are doing. And I am surprisingly okay with that. I have to believe that the Universe has some plan for us, and this is all part of that plan.

I returned to work on Wednesday after two weeks off with Richard and his parents. Even though I returned to work, I still had the three of them with me until yesterday. I was sad to see them go, and of course especially sad to see Richard go. It is amazing how easy it is to get comfortable being around him 24/7 after being used to only being around him two weekends a month. Although I really needed a good night's sleep last night, I missed him hogging the covers and sleeping in the exact middle of the bed. As I rolled over last night, I saw the date on my alarm clock and was jarred by the realization that yesterday was the five year anniversary of him coming to America. I wasn't able to reach him to honor the day together, and I was sad that I didn't remember it when I said goodbye to him that morning. So instead of reading a few paragraphs of a sappy book before falling asleep, I pulled out the box of old letters from him. The letters that we wrote to each other over two years, over 6,000 miles.

I randomly pulled out one from February 2003. I didn't realize how much I missed his letters. Our relationship is a different relationship now then it was then. We don't write letters anymore. We have succumbed to the convenience of modern technology. Even back then we emailed every day, but we didn't have Skype or web cams. We didn't instant message because of the time difference, and lack of Internet access. We couldn't afford to talk on the phone every day. We were not able to text each other. Now, we have all of those luxuries, so we don't have to write letters. We also have the foundation though that writing our letters created. So for those of you that are in newer LDRs, get out that pen and paper.

Nothing connects you like letter writing. It may not seem different than email, but it is. And I really miss it. The few times in the last two years I have received mail from Richard, I was filled with joy. Reading some of those letters last night moved me to tears, as I'm sure they did six years ago when I read them for the first time. So much time has passed, they are starting to actually look like old letters. It may be time to try and preserve them some how. Maybe in some plastic holders. I would love to combine both of our sets and bind them and each have a copy. Maybe I will be able to do that one day. I would hate to lose them somehow. If there was a fire in my home, and I had to get out quickly the only two things I would grab would be my pet and my letters from Richard. And I keep them in my nightstand for ease of access. If I had time, I would grab my other important papers and I would of course try to get my photographs, but more than anything, I would want those letters. In fact, I may need to invest in a fireproof safe. And after writing this, perhaps a new set of stationary.