Valentine's Day

i wonder why it lifts my spirit so to hear jeanne laughing as she talks to mollie. would it lift my spirits in the same way to hear any other woman laughing as she talked to her puppy? or it uniquely jeanne? would anybody else have the same reaction listening to her? or is this uniquely my response?

who could tell? or does it even matter?

what does matter is that i've heard that voice for nearly 31 years of marriage and 2 more years of courting and engagement. ("courting"???? does anybody do that anymore? ) what does matter is that it's that voice, that laughter, that person -- and it's my heart that is responding.

i'm glad that it's valentine's day. i'm glad that we're going out on a date tonight. i'm glad that i'll hear her voice and see her face and laugh at her jokes. i'm glad that she'll make me think with stories and observations and questions. but most of all, i'm really glad that i'm glad about all this.

it could all have turned out so differently.

but it didn't.

and that's really lucky!