Another Turn Around the Sun

I read Wuthering Heights long before I met Rob, but there is one line that I never thoroughly understood until I knew him. Catherine says: ...He's more myself than I am. Whatever our souls are made of, his and mine are the same.
There could not be a better description of how I feel about Rob. Opposites may attract, but can they hold? Can they go the distance when it is required? I've often wondered if the staying power of a happy marriage comes from the spark of recognition that another's soul is so perfectly suited to your own; a kindred spirit, as Anne would say. I think all love must contain an element of shared vision; a capacity for seeing your life mirrored in another's life. That's what keeps me with Rob more than anything else -- knowing that I am good and capable and loving on my own, but I'm better with him. With him, all my good bits are proudly displayed, and he sweeps the broken, ugly parts under the rug; still there, just not as noticeable.
Rob turns 35 today, and we have known each other for 13 years, and in that time, our spark has never diminished. I still see myself when I look at him.

So Happy Birthday, darling Rob. I love you always, in all ways.