Danny and Annie from Brooklyn, NY had been together for 27 years when they recorded the story of their first date. You can hear the conviction and adoration in Danny's voice as he talks to his wife. This video will put tears in your eyes, and make you crave something like what they have. One of my favorite parts of this story is the pride Danny takes in not only telling his wife how much he loves her, but showing her.
"If I don't have a note on the kitchen table, I think there's something wrong," says Annie. "You write a love letter to me every morning."
"Well the only thing that could possibly be wrong is I couldn't find a silly pen," jokes Danny.
Then, Annie reads today's letter:
To my princess, the weather out today is extremely rainy. I'll call you at 11:20 in the morning. And I love you. I love you. I love you.
"It's a romantic weather report," Danny chuckles.
"When a guy is happily married, no matter what happens at work, no matter what happens in the rest of the day, there's a shelter when you get home. There's a knowledge knowing that you can hug somebody without them throwing you down the stairs and saying 'Get your hands off me!' Being married is like having a colored television set. You never want to go back to black and white."
This couple embodies what I believe is love. They don't endure each other, they crave each other. They don't live together, each exists for the other. They don't think about what's in it for themselves, but what they can offer the other person.
This type of selflessness is so rare, because like anything else, it requires practice, effort, and thought. I imagine Danny's daily love letters were just a fraction of the things he did to show his love for his wife, and likewise Annie's care and concern for Danny did not begin when he contracted cancer, but long before.
What thoughtful things can you do to show someone you love them? I'd love to hear your ideas or thoughts in the comments.