seven

Stephen and I have been together for seven years, now.

uh oh.

I told him it would be funny to rent The Seven Year Itch for Valentine's Day. [Actually, what we rented was the Bogart film High Sierra.] Seven years ago, the movie was Amelie. There was a time, somewhere in the middle of things, where we realized all we do is watch movies and discussed the fact that we should be more creative and find other things to do. I think we're both glad we gave that up.

When we were first together, I always hated when the movie was coming to an end, because there's always that moment afterward where you feel like you have to discuss it, and I was still too afraid to give my opinions about things. That's what seven years means - not an itch but a comfort place, where we lie in bed after the movie and talk easy and just enjoy each other's company.

I didn't come here to tell you that. I came here to tell you that on our first Valentine's Day together, there was a moment when Stephen walked into the room and said, "Here, this is for you." And presented me with a dryer sheet he'd just found stuck to his shirt.