Happy 6th Anniversary My Love!

Today actually holds two meanings for me, one happy and one sad. First it will always be the day of my very first date with Justin. We spoke on the phone, and agreed to meet at Borders near San Francisco State University. I'll never forget the moment I saw him walking across the street into the bookstore as I was pulling in. My first thought was "Wow, I hope that's him!"

After browsing the bookstore and chatting a bit we headed down to the Castro for dinner at the Welcome Home Cafe. While at dinner I received some bad news, a call from my Mother letting me know that my Father had just passed away from his 6 month battle with cancer. I broke down, Justin didn't know what was going on, I finally explained. We spent the rest of the evening walking around the Castro together holding hands before I had to head home and make arrangements to fly back east the next day.

Someone once said to me that perhaps at that moment my Father knew I had found someone special who would always love and care for me, so he could finally rest. I wish Justin would have been able to meet my Father to know what an incredible man he was.

So that's the story and after many ups and downs, good times and bad times, here we are still together 6 years later. I thought it would be fun to take a brief look back through some photos of us over the past 6 years.

2000 - Our First Few Months

2001 - Our Year Together in San Francisco

2002 - The Move to Phoenix

2003 - The Eating Binge Begins

2004 - The Eating Binge Continues

2005 - The Year of European Travel

2006 - The Year of the Circuit

I think it's always funny to go back and look at our photos over time. We started out so young and thin. I think as we settled in with each other we proceeded to let go and get fatter and fatter each year until 2006 we decided a change was in order. I'm very happy and proud of where we both are now.

Justin and I have a great relationship. We get along well, we enjoy many of the same things and we complement each other nicely. I'm am however not going to candy coat it and say it's always perfect because there really isn't anything in life that's always perfect. We've certainly had our fair share of fights and even a few days where one of us was so mad we just couldn't look at the other. But after it's all said and done, we've always had this uncanny ability to make each other laugh, which really makes it hard for one of us to stay mad at the other for very long.

For me this is it, I mean seriously it's taken me 6 years to get Justin trained so you think I'm going to give all that work up to start over with someone else. LOL. I'm just kidding. We've both grown so much in the last 6 years that it's almost scary. He's introduced me to things I never thought I would like, and in turn I've done the same for him. We've been able to integrate our lives together and share new experiences together even the things we enjoy with each other without ever having to give up any part of ourselves. I sometimes think that 6 years is a long time, and indeed for some in the gay community it is, but I know that it's just the beginning of a long journey for us and I've had such a great time so far that I'm really looking forward to the years to come.

Justin, you're the first person to help me not feel ashamed of being gay while holding my hand and walking through the streets of San Francisco. You've helped me know who I am and become the proud and confident gay man I am today. I know I can always count on you, I know you will be there for me whenever I need you and I know that my love for you grows stronger with each passing day. I hope you never forget these things, and know that I love you so very much. Happy 6th Anniversary Piglet!

Labels: Gay Relationships, Justin Chanley, Phoenix