Stephanie's birthday: Why I love my wife

Stephanie, my wife, celebrated her 27th birthday Friday. We didn't do much to celebrate, but it was one of those days that I remembered why I married her.

Her "gift" was a new tattoo for her toe. She got the Hindu Om symbol, which represents harmony between body and soul (or something of that nature). It's tiny, but there's something really cool about it. I guess what I like about it is that, on one hand, it represents something very special about who she is, or wants to be, in that she's aware of that relationship one has with their body. On the other hand, I find it amazing that she can make a permanent change to her body to remember that time in life.

It's actually her second tattoo. Her first came nine years before to the day, on her 18th birthday, when she got a butterfly on her ankle.

I was uncomfortable at first, because the idea of doing something like that to yourself, something that permanent, scares the hell out of me. It's not that I objected to it, indeed she has another one she'd like to get that I'm all for. It's just in my head, I couldn't do it. I would have a hard time getting over the idea that I might not like it at some later point.

That's what I love so much about Stephanie. She's filled with all kinds of uncertainties, just like everyone else, but at the same time, she's more comfortable and in touch with herself than I think she's willing to admit or realize. There's something to be said for that. She has this style, this focus, this sense of being that I find so hard to realize in myself.

The good news is that it rubs off on me a little everyday. I know she changes for me in little ways, but I change in ways to be more like her. She's my balance, my inspiration and my soul mate. How many people in the world can say they're married to that person?