I try to keep the sappiness to a minimum around these parts. There’s been a few posts about the upcoming wedding but, for the most part, I understand that over the top love poems are unfit for public consumption and could induce nausea.

So bear with me on this one. Today marks the start of fifth year that I’ve been courting the best friend I’ve ever had. I’ve never been one to celebrate, what I consider, these small anniversaries that come while in a relationship. Events such as a three year anniversary would require a dinner together but that’s about all. But this is five years - half a freaking decade! That’s a big deal to me.

Our relationship has spanned three cities (DC, Chicago and Detroit) and, at it’s furthest point, 524 miles. We’re living proof that long distance relationships can work if you are fully invested. Five years later and I still get butterflies in anticipation of seeing her. That’s no joke.

This photo was the very first one of us taken on the morning of June 13, 2004, just before I drove her to the airport to fly home. We’d just had “the talk” and decided we were both diving in head first to the relationship, even if we were half a continent away from each other. We were in my apartment in DC and Alexis had been crying since she didn’t want to leave, thus the glassy look in her eyes.

Oh, one other thing. A hour and a half hour ago we put in our first offer on a house. It seems fitting that our home together could officially begin on the same day our relationship started.

Happy anniversary my love! Here’s to at least 60 more of them.