Happy birthday to my brilliant, beautiful, hilarious, and eminently wise wife, Elysha.
The calendar says that she is one year older today, but truly, she seems to grow younger in spirit as each year passes.
The first time I celebrated Elysha’s birthday with her, we weren’t yet together. I had dropped in on a dinner party at her apartment with my girlfriend at the time during dessert. I remember seeing her across a table crowded with food and candles, surrounded by friends, thinking how incredibly young and beautiful she looked.
From the moment I first saw Elysha, I had a crush on her, but on that night, seeing her celebrate with friends, I had never felt so out of her league. So impossibly far away from ever being with her.
Even today, after nearly two decades together, I still sometimes look at her across a room and can’t believe I’m married to her.
Sitting in a chair, reading a book.
Snuggling with our kids on the couch, watching a movie.
Or simply sitting in the passenger seat of the car as I drive down the road, I’ll look across at her and am still consumed with disbelief that she, Elysha, is holding my hand.
In so many ways, she’s still that young, beautiful, seemingly unattainable girl across that crowded birthday table, so very far out of my league.
How lucky for me.
Happy birthday, honey.
