mushy-gushiness

Valentine's is certainly a fitting excuse to shower Scott with adoration, but this guy has my heart every day, and he really deserves to know it.

Scott, you have always been a dream boat. And girls could see that in you. You always took care of me while we were dating; you constantly re-arranged your schedule so you could always spend every minute with me; you always had surprises up your sleeve. These kinds of things showed me how much I meant to you. But more importantly, they taught me what kind of man you were. And oh, how I totally flipped. By the time you left after Fall Fling, I knew I was in over my head. It made me nervous, losing myself to you so quickly. But for as timid as I felt, everyone was utterly won over by you. I always had a roommate, the Weeds, or my mom around to help me be okay with the vulnerability you feel when you're in love. You know, when I dated other guys, I always had a friend or two that I could tell had some reservations about the guy. But you were different. Nobody else had any concerns, so (in typical Mickelle fashion), I had to create enough to go around. How did you put up with me?

I feel so privileged -- and bewildered -- that you chose me when the world was always your oyster. (Is that why you've given me all those pearls?) You have always been an incredible man. But the man I am now married to has so many more accomplishments than you did 5.5 years ago. And with those accomplishments comes change. You have become more focused. With each passing semester, the enthusiasm and passion you have for engineering grows. You have given this master's degree everything in you, even as the burn-out reached its peak. Socially, there is so much in you to admire and appreciate! You reach out to those around you; you are accepting, inviting, and low-key. You are comfortable with many different personalities and something about you invites them to accept themselves as well. There are total quirks in your personality that are utterly endearing to everyone -- like your penchant for MPS, your love for birthdays and numbers, and your home improvement projects.

I don't know what the future holds for us, but after even the few years we've spent together, I know you well enough to know that it will be beautiful. It will be busy. And it will probably involve a kitchen remodel or two. And I am looking forward to it -- even the days when you are so frantically busy that we don't get as much time together as I'd like. Even then. Because at least I get to sleep next to you.