One! Whole! Year!

As the title to this post may suggest, this weekend marked a landmark in my life. Paul and I have been seeing each other for an entire year now, not counting all the extra hours we squeezed in by stopping time and climbing under a blanket. A full year, and one fuller than any other year of my life, probably. It seems kind of perfect, then, that we ran into Ross and his current lady friend not once, but twice today while wandering aimlessly around the Rosebank flea market. Which must be more than a coincidence, considering this was the first time Paul and I had ever, EVER decided to subject ourselves to the various sensorial assaults that the market has to offer. The best part? Without any irony? I was happy to see Ross. Not that any kind of exchange took place, each couple bowing rigidly to the code of not existing in the others known universe. But I didn't want to scream, or cry, or gnash my teeth, and Ross looked happy, and that made me happy. Despite having days when I would like nothing better than to watch him lose every hair on his head, as well as the ability to breathe, I am ok.

I am ok because I have someone in my life who holds me together when I need to be held together, who makes me laugh and who I can dance with and fart in front of and never, ever feel embarrassed around. (Not that I do that, because I totally don't). But mostly, I am ok because breaking up with Ross was probably one of the strongest and most honest things I ever did, and every step that I take from that point has been one that I chose, one that I directed and took responsibility for. And every step that I took has been supported by someone who is more together, and kind, and genuine, and intelligent, than I ever thought I deserved. The best thing about being in this relationship is that I don't feel like I need to be in it. I want to be in it.

[For those of you threw up a little bit in your mouth when you read that, don't worry: more stories of drunken cat handling and suchlike are on their way.]

Happy anniversary B***y.