"Love is life. And if you miss love, you miss life." -Leo Buscaglia
My life path changed forever when I walked into a Madison coffee shop on September 7th, 2018. Of course I had no idea I was sitting across the table from the woman who would become the love of my life at that moment, but Dove and I got to know each other better over the course of our three hour conversation that day, which set the stage for the countless special moments to come.
I wrote the initial blog piece about our storybook romance in January of 2019 (https://kevburgh23.blogspot.com/2019/01/dove.html), a couple of weeks after Dove accepted my proposal. Six months later we celebrated our wedding with family and friends, and our honeymoon capped off that wonderful, memorable period in our lives together.
A lot has happened in the three years since we met. Some were positive events: A new home purchase. Two home sales. My special needs son temporarily moved in with us. My retirement from teaching. My sister in law and her family moved to the Madison area.
Some were not: COVID-19. Major, difficult winds of change blew through Dove's agency. Two of our pets passed away.
Through all those ups and downs the love and admiration I have for my wife has grown even deeper. Our bond is immeasurable. Magical. A fairy tale come to life.
Her personality leaves me in awe time and again. Kindness extended to complete strangers. Patience that exceeds all norms. Heartfelt compassion for animals. Insight that enlightens me. Selflessness to an extreme. Inspirational empathy for others. Wisdom and insight that wows me. All of these traits have rubbed off; I'm a better human being because of my wife's influence.
Dove constantly looks after me. "How was your walk honey? How did you sleep? Do you want to ice your knee?" She always wants to make sure I'm okay, and is ready and willing to help if I'm not. Such caring was noticeably absent in a previous relationship. When it came to my well being, that individual was too self-centered to ask, care, or both. Recollections of the (verbal) abuse I experienced back then are a factor as well. After enduring such hurtful times, I appreciate these joyful days even more. I've gone from the depths of despair in the past to the top of the mountain today, completely enveloped in my partner's love. Incredible.
It's now been three years since we met, yet in many ways it feels like I've known my wife forever. Our incomparable journey together continues on...sometimes it's hard to believe this is all real. I am SUCH a lucky man.
"Only when we give joyfully, without hesitation or thought of gain, can we truly know what love means."-Leo Buscaglia
