How do I love thee? Let me make a short list so as not to annoy others.
So, I’m venting in a good way. I’m putting an abridged list of reasons I love Crystal. I’m probably missing obvious ones because that’s what happens when you make lists like this. If important ones come to me, I’ll add them. I’m putting it behind a cut because some people hate this stuff, or at least don’t want to read it.
She’s my kind of crazy. - Over the last two years Crystal and I have found over and over again that our flavors of crazy, while not the same, are very similar. We’ll often find ourselves trying to excuse some outburst of weirdness only to find the other gazing at us dreamily.
She’s down with History. - Crystal and I can stay up for hours talking about history, from Homer and Virgil to Cleopatra to Vercingetorix (and more modern topics, like Queen Victoria or what have you...). It’s an outstanding feeling to know that you and your significant other share the same passions.
Yeah, but she’s our witch. - No, not a reference to her religious preference. Much like River, everyone who meets Crystal loves her on some level. It’s impossible not to. She’s incredibly endearing. She may not see it herself, but she’s loved by many.
That’s your plan, Ray? Get her? - I’ve no idea how many times Justin, Ben, Andrew or I have made some 80’s reference only to have Crystal (or some other Mawrtyr) just sit there and blink at us. While initially frustrating, I eventually came to love these moment ‘cause I got to show her the movies the first time around.
She puts up with my stupid. - I’m a dumb boy. I admit it freely. While I may do things right on occasion, I also do things wrong. She’s always willing to put up with that and tell me how I screwed up and how I can fix that.
I’m looking for an Old Soul - We’re both anachronistic in our own ways. I sleep on the side of the bed that’s closest to the door. She walks to my right (or the side farther from traffic when the two conflict). Much in line with our quirks and love for history is a love for tradition and old fashioned ideals. Okay, so we’re not so good with some of those ideals... Abstinence isn’t really our bag.
She’s got Legs. - However shallow it may be... I have a sexy girlfriend and enjoy appreciating that at every opportunity. There’s also more to sex than just Lust, at least if you’re doing it right.
I can be 12 again. - With Crystal I’ve no qualms about sitting outside a Polar Bear enclosure and spazzing. “Ohmygawd he just scratched his armpit that was so awesome!”
All the reindeer games - Snow ball fights and pillow fights and tickle fights and... Apparently we fight a lot. Actually horseplay is the name of the game. And the game is fun.
Timing is everything. - We miss each other when we don’t see each other. Everyone who knows me knows that I’m missing her right now. However, we’re not stuck together. As another friend put it. We come in 3 different servings, Tom, Crystal and Couple. It’s good to know that we’re both maintaining separate lives as well as the one we’re building together.
She needs me. - OK, she doesn’t need-need me. But I certainly feel appreciated when important stuff goes down. She was in the hospital a while back and I certainly felt like things went smoother with me there than they would have otherwise. Helping her cope with stress is rewarding and fulfilling. More than anything else, it’s hopefully helping her to be ready to deal with these stresses later on.
Get to tha Choppah! - My first priority in a Zombie Apocalypse dream was “Save Crystal.” That’s gotta say a lot. Now I rounded up friends and made sure they were OK when we did so, but she was still up there in my list. No, I wouldn’t have left Justin to the ravages of the living impaired, but I need her too.
I can keep going. My muse is always with me. I’ve got her picture at my desk. I doubt anyone else wants to read me be all squishy about my girlfriend. These are just things I’ve been doting on for the last few weeks while she’s in Sunny California and I’m in Rainy Pennsylvania. What the hell is up with the rain anyway? It’s freaking January. Snow already.