GOOD MORNING, BEAUTIFUL

Dearest Deborah,

How nice it is to leave the house to go to work with your last words in my head:

You said: Have a real nice day.

And I told you I'd call when I got a chance.

And you said that would be nice.

That would be nice.

That would be nice.

That is why I smiled on my way to work. Life and simple pleasures.

Love always and forever, Michael

DECEMBER WITH LOVE

Dearest Deborah,

54 degrees outside and it's December in Chicago. The snow is all but gone, just a chunk here or there, some frozen ice melting, and gray mounds piled at the end of parking lots.

Thank you for the snowball fight over the weekend. And thank you for letting me win, but I think my sneak attack through the back of the Suburban put me over the top--and let's not forget my ricochet shot across its hood.

We need to remember part of love is having fun, laughing and thinking how nice things are.

Love forever and always, Michael

LOVE IN THE WINTER

Dearest Deborah,

It is, indeed, cold outside, but as I made it on my way to the train station this morning, the ice slippery, the wind hard and stubborn, the sidewalks and snow and streets--I was warm because of my thoughts of you.

Love is like a warm puppy, they say, but I like to believe love is you against me and our warmth combining to heat the furnaces in our hearts forever.

Love forever and always, Michael

LOVE AND...

Dearest Deborah,

Love takes winding roads and intense turns. Obstacles block the way and grow bigger. But so does our love. There is little that can stop us. Not an outsider who feels they can manipulate a situation into a volcanic eruption. Not a liar. Not a doomsday merchant.

Please reread the third and fourth sentences above.

It's true.

That's how much I love you.

Love forever and always, Michael