Rain is very probably one of the best things to happen to me in the past couple of years. She's sweet and accomodating and vibrant and drop-dead sexy and a bunch of other superlatives, but I think what I find best about her is how darned AT EASE and supremely COMFORTABLE I can be in her presence. She's a gracious hostess, has an absolutely wonderful family of which she can be very proud, and best of all...she kicks me the real deal when I most need it. Enjoy the Rain --just don't agitate her puppy or try to take her yarn away. *grin*

What can I say about Rain... I spent a long time staring at the monitor with just those 6 words, trying to figure out exactly what to say. I don't know if these are the words I wanted... but they are the best I could find.

Eight years ago I took a great leap, into fatherhood, into husbandhood... Having had no experience in either. In many ways I am still falling. It hasn't always (or even mostly) been easy, but through it all she has been by my side... through our many adventures and misadventures, holding my hand... and reminding me that it's all going to be Ok. She has been my shoulder to cry on when I needed one, and the boot that gets me off my ass when I needed that. She has kept me laughing (sometimes even at myself) and brought more magic into my life then any man should rationally expect and more beauty to my life then I could hope to deserve. Sometimes I think we share a brain... and she got all the good parts. She is my partner in mischief, my friend in the good times my consolations in the bad. And even though we don't always see eye to eye... I can't think of anybody who I would want to be beside me more, for better or worse (although personally I am pulling for better) for richer or that other thing, in (murmur murmur) or health... till death us do part... I still love the very stuffins of you woman... right down to the little hairs on your toes.

Happy Anniversary. 9-21-04