272

To my love, a happy monthly anniversary. I do not deserve you. I love and appreciate your kindness. Thank you for putting up with my ups and downs. Thank you for being open to another adventure. I wish I was more sedate like you. I wish I was better. I try, inspired. I hope you know. I hope you see it. 

I love you. To another month together. 

 271

Happy monthly anniversary to you, my wife. I know this is not how we wanted to have it, but we will get past this. The game industry is fickle and volatile. I will find a new job. Thank you for being supportive and kind. We will get past this and I hope we figure out a way to stay in Europe. It feels safer here, quieter. I think we enjoy not having to need a car. I think we like the mix of the tapestry of history mixed with the neon and steel of now. I can hear myself think here. I've come far here. And I like to think I've gotten stronger and better for both of us.   

270

For my wife, a happy monthly anniversary as we sit on the cusp of the shortest day of the year, when the darkness is at its greatest. But it’s the depth of the winter abyss. Everything after is more light and eventually more warmth. It’s another winter we are spending away from loved ones, away from America. It’s our third in Europe, our second in Scandinavia, and our first with just one cat.  I hope you are happy. I hope the darkness and the renewed COVID restrictions doesn’t make you feel boxed in. I hope another Christmas away from your family don’t make you alone and unloved. No one should feel that, especially this time of year, and especially you. I love you.

 269

Happy monthly anniversary, my love.

It’s that time again when the darkness takes over for days and months and we all start to retreat into sweaters, long coats, hygge lights, and the appeal to sleep long hours. We will rest here for the holidays and see in another year in Denmark. We will have lived abroad for another year, making a new life in a foreign country. I hope you are enjoying this. I hope you feel loved and safe here. 

I love you.

 268

To my wife, another monthly anniversary for us. 

There and back again regarding Chicago, regarding the marathon, regarding seeing my family for the first time in the two years of plague. At least the flights were near empty. Our own flying couches where we could sleep in peace. 

Away from home for a week. I forgot what it was like to vacate. But then I never vacated well. 

Thank you for watching me run, and trying to find me at different spots along the course. I promise next marathon will be local. No need to fly thousands of miles to see me sweat.