I've often looked at the really close friends and family in my life as pivotal characters that I think everyone should have to be Valentine-illy fulfilled. My family is full of amazing role models: my goofy and incredibly smart father (who's so fascinated that he can communicate with me over AIM at the moment), my wonderfully sweet and equally talented mother (who calls me up for the sole purpose of making sure I haven't frozen to death in Lake Michigan or something), my amazing sister who oozes confidence and togetherness with every step she takes (I'm so in awe of her), and my brother-in-law and niece, who exemplify a very together family.
And then there's the Lakewood crew... sure I've sprinkled together some other incredibly great friends from the collegiate chapters of my life, but the Lakewood crew stays always as an important support group in my head and heart. I'm not sure I've ever discovered another gathering quite like us... whenever we all find each other back at our home base (usually over some holiday) we get together and have a great game night and it's like none of us ever left. This was the group that helped me know how great of a guy Tom was, because they all loved him when I introduced him at a game night. Not that we're all judgemental, but we do weed out the worthless companions pretty quick. ;) I know you all know who you are... thank you for your completely rambunctious love.
Chris, Alex, Lindsay and Marley... this sounds like a rock song. But they all deserve mention, because as hard as I try to keep on my career path in college, these people manage to sneak their way through and make me take note of how incredibly glad I am that I've met them. And my dear Peter in LA... I think he may have brought me back to sane after viewing me pretty emotionally naked. It's nice to know there are two people in completely different parts of the US pulling for the other one in so many ways.
Which brings me to dear Tommy... the only Valentine's date I've ever had. Let me tell you, from a year ago to today, we've had kind of a rocky year. But there are times when you take a step back and look at this companion you have in your life and wonder how you ever let yourself trust another person enough to get to this point. You're proud of yourself, and you're thankful to the person for entering it. And while one of the greatest feelings in the world is success, for a while I thought this was the only truly great feeling. But I've found another one... where you look at your companion, at a moment where they don't realize you're viewing them in a particular way. Maybe they're making dinner, or talking on the phone with a friend, or driving somewhere and taking you with them. You realize this ride is very metaphorical, and they've taken you on a journey that you pray never ends. You see their face and remember why and how you were attracted to them in the first place, and how, even though the initial nervousness and unknown has perhaps drifted away, the familiarity is a thousand times more comforting.
To...
MomDadNeenTomEmmaKellenStaceyEllieLeahLindseyTysonTeresaTheresaBethTianaLisaChrisAlexLindsayMarleyPeterTommy...