My amazing husband and I have been married for thirteen year, 22 July. These have been the very best and worst years of my life: worst in that I was diagnosed with von Hippel Lindau disease (three weeks before our wedding--I had brain surgery and was first diagnosed with everything), I have had brain tumors, spinal cord tumors, pancreatic cancer, over a dozen hospitalizations and major surgeries, my brother had a severe traumatic brain injury and nearly died, both of my daughters were diagnosed with VHL, my oldest was diagnosed with an eye tumor, we moved several times, and I lost my Dad to VHL. It has been very hard. But, these years have also been the best years of my life, as I have had my soul mate by my side for all of the traumas and all of the joys the last thirteen years have brought. Gary is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am forever a better person for being his wife. He has supported me through many health scares and while I finished my BSc and Master's degree, he has taught me to fly fish and tie my own flies, he shares my voracious love of reading, he supports my artistic endeavors and was the one who suggested and helped to set up my studio, he has the wisest mind of anyone I know, he loved my Dad as much as I did, he's an amazing father, and he loves and accepts me just as I am. I could seriously go on and on, but the long and the short of it is that G is my favorite person in the world and I am deeply grateful and honored to married to him.
In celebration of our anniversary, G got me the long-awaited-for Neocolor II set that I have been lusting after. I have wanted these for so long but the expense prevented me from feeling okay buying them for myself. G was concerned that the Neocolor II set was not a romantic enough or anniversary-ish gift, but honestly they are one of my favorite gifts EVER! They work like a dream--a little scribble, a little water, and BAM! fabulous, inky, beautiful color. Thank you, G, for the most wonderful gift an artist could receive and the most wonderful life a woman could ever hope for. You have all my love always!
