As You Grace Us With Another Trip Around The Sun

Dear Mimi, my mimi —

I’ve been imagining writing to you for the past few weeks, each time generating, hopefully, the kind of opening phrase or statement that would bring a fresh warm smile to those cheeks. And now here I am, writing about writing. How meta of me. I’ve ended up twisting my proverbial tongue because I want this love letter to you to mean to you even a fraction of what you mean to me.

It’s nurture that’s brought us to where we are today, in our relationship, and as individuals. We talk about it all the time, Mimi. We nurture ourselves, then nurture each other nurturing our individual selves — then we nurture our relationship. I’ve seldom been able to pinpoint that kind of intentionality in my other relationships. With you, I can expect to be seen, and I endeavor to see you — in fact, I think we see parts of each other that we, as solid entities, either can’t or don’t want to see about ourselves. That can be scary, you know, to allow someone in so deeply. To show someone the way to your untouched rainforest of dreams, anxieties, tingles, insecurities, and hopes, trusting they won’t exhaust the exuberantly green nature of your authentic self.

We’re doing that though. We’re taking that risk with each other, trusting that our hearts won’t break like they once did — in this very relationship. When I tell you that you have to prove to no one that you are compassionate, forgiving, loving, agreeable, selfless —all and more — it’s because I’ve felt (and do feel) these traits emanating from you, personally. I can’t tell you that if the tables were turned, and we’d separated, I’d accept you back into my life with such grace and openness. I’ll never forget that, and  I can’t thank you enough.

I’d like to think we’re tethered somehow. I’d like to think your boldness strengthens my boldness, your vulnerability triggers deeper softness within me. It certainly feels that way. It certainly feels like your magic ignites child-like hope in my eyes when I gaze out toward the dusky cityscape, wishing you were here beside me.

Because you are magic. I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again. I’ve never met anyone like you. My intellect battles with me, trying to disprove this, but I can’t. I just can’t — and I don’t want to. Among the qualities I’ve given you earlier, you are sensitive, hilarious, incredibly thoughtful, ambitious, fucking with it, graceful, intelligent, dedicated, intuitive, honest, hopeful, daring, sexy, bright and beautiful, insightful, simply fun.

There are feelings I’m experiencing currently that can’t be expressed using the English language. Maybe here is where I’d hug you.

As you reflect on your past year, and the past 24 at that (teehee), I hope you feel that you are where you need to be — that your experiences and your self-reflection to date have molded you into the goddess you are today. You are truly one of a kind, second to none, comparable to none. This world is lucky to have you. I am blessed to have you. I hope your cheeks are warm.

— with my whole, beating heart -Nkem