I first met Rob during what may have been the most difficult time of my entire life. When he first showed interest in me, my reply was, “You don’t want this.” Rob is always up for a challenge. That was 3 years ago. It took a lot of patience and understanding for Rob to convince me that love didn’t only exist for my parents who recently celebrated 39 years of marriage (unless my math is wrong). If I could use only one phrase to describe my husband it would be, “Over the top” He doesn’t do anything the easy way, without thinking or without puting everything he has into it. He proposed to me 4 times even though I’d accepted each previous proposal. We got married in the Stratosphere Hotel in Las Vegas. In that valley it’s known as “The top of the World.”
When I told Rob in the beginning, “I made a list and men are only good for 7 things,” he told me, “You’re going to have to start a new list for me.” He was right. I stopped writing his list when it reached 32 things. And he keeps working to improve himself. While encouraging me to do things I find fulfilling. Like this web site. If you enjoy reading these pages and my endless thoughts, thank Rob.
Rob came into my life when I thought I was empty inside. He showed me just how full I really was, how full life could be. For the first time in my life the love I give is the love I receive. A couple of years ago, I compared my love for him to what you read about in storybooks as a kid. That analogy is stronger now.
Rob turned my belief system about love completely upside down and I thank him for that. He changed the way I feel about life, love, and marriage. I’d gotten used to not allowing myself to feel strongly for anyone, other then the kids. Sadly, I’d accepted that that kind of love wasn’t for me. But it is, love is for everyone. Happiness isn’t something someone brings to you or gives to you. It’s something that comes out from inside of you when you’re with the right someone. Rob and the kids bring out the best in me. They give me so much reason to express happiness, and joy. As much as Rob dislikes the movie Jerry McGuire I’ve got to say, “he completes me”.
Rob has been more loving, kind, patient, caring and exciting then I thought I'd ever know in this life, more then I thought I deserved. His encouragement and strengths where I'm weak have gotten me farther and made more out of my life then I could have imagined.
Rob has enriched the kids’ lives immeasurably. He's been the dad they should have had all along, the friend I felt I always knew, and so much more.
I never thought I could love this way, again, or maybe ever. I don't remember loving anyone this way. I remember the fear of losing someone I’d stopped reaching out to, someone that didn't want to be reached. I’ve always known that in order for things to work, both people have to be reaching for one another. When I reach for Rob, I know he’s reaching out for me. That is an amazing feeling. A connection like a world opens and that world only exists for the two of us. During that time all that matters is what we're doing, talking about or feeling. I love those moments and look forward to each one of them. 11-21-06 Rob seems to have lost some interest in my site. Either because he's too busy, tired or I've spent too much time talking about my divorce, (without just saying "divorce"). After all, that is a time that he's tried to help me put in the past, far far in the past. I love Rob. He and the kids are my life. I've spent a lot of time trying to figure out how to thank the people who were there for me at my very lowest. I admit I was pretty low when I met Rob but he didn't actually see the absolute worst of it. When I'd given up hope. Honestly, he was the primary target of my ill feelings caused by the worst of it. He'd tell me, "All men are dogs, but some men are good dogs." In the past few years he's helped me over come many of my emotional blocks. Rob has patiently helped me tear down the walls I'd built around my heart. I adore him for that and I hope he realizes that by saying "thank you" to the people who were there before, during and after the divorce... I'm also saying "good-bye" to my old life and most importantly I'm saying, "Hello new life". That's not what started the ball rolling on writing the Tributes but I've seen the affect of writing them on my life and in my heart. |
