“Love is the condition in which the happiness of another person is essential to your own.” – Robert Heinlein

Exactly one year ago today, John arrived in Geneva. I remember getting ready to meet him at the airport. I cleaned the apartment, prepared dinner, and did my hair. I put on a cute outfit with boots and a peacoat and tracked his flight for almost the entire 14 hours he was in the air. I was sooo excited.

I searched through the lines of people coming out of the doors of the baggage claim area. Finally, I saw him. I started waving and smiling. This is how I imagined our reunion.

 

He dragged his six suitcases towards me, gave me a half smile / half grimace, and asked me where the bathroom was. It was better than I imagined.

We went back to the apartment, he fell asleep on our Ikea fold out couch almost immediately, and me and my nice hair watched Say Yes to the Dress.

Since then we have traveled, eaten too much cheese, spent way too much time together, laughed, fought, made memories, and, most importantly, survived.

There were times when I wasn’t sure we would make it to this point. Actually, there were times when I was sure we wouldn’t. Like the day I came home from work and John told me that it only cost $5000 for him to fly home the next day.

Hon, I am so proud of you. You did something totally out of your comfort zone, and you did it with a smile on your face (most of the time). You are the best. You have made my dreams possible and put yours on hold. There isn’t anyone I would rather live with in a 50 square meter apartment in a country over 5000 miles away from home. Home is wherever I’m with you.

I promise we’ll still move back to our Seattle home though.

Happy one year anniversary!