Today, June 4th is my ultimate concierge‘s and my late husband Michael’s birthdays. I am celebrating both of them. I lit a candle for Michael. I will celebrate Shelly’s birthday in Miami Beach, at a dinner party, together with some of our very close friends.

Two loves at different stages of my life. I was 18 years old, a freshman in college when I met Michael in Miami Beach over Christmas vacation. We were both traveling with our families.

I met Shelly in Chicago after Michael passed away from a sudden and unexpected heart attack.  I was a young widow in my 40s. (Read here about the tools I used to survive widowhood.)

It is now 33 years later. I have led an amazing life with gigantic hills and the lowest of valleys. As a woman far over 50, I am the wife of the man I call my ultimate concierge, who, in my mind, is bigger than life. I am the Matriarch of a large blended family, the founder of HoneyGood.com, and a group of women thousands strong who, along with my family, call me Honey, my actual grandmother name.

Today I celebrate my husband with a love letter.

Dear Shelly,

Happy Birthday!

The moment I saw you for the first time thirty-three years ago, my little heart flipped.  To be honest, my feelings were electrifying. As you know, I had been a widow for ten months on that sunny November day in 1990. You were my first and only date after Michael passed away.  I was very trepidatious. As you said later, “Honey, you were almost like marrying the Virgin Mary!”

I can still see you getting out of your car to pick me up. I still recall the suit you wore, how you moved, and your smile.

From that first moment to this day, thirty-three years later, whenever I see you enter a room, my little heart goes pitter-patter. I am madly in love with you. While I recognize that I am important to the success of our relationship and that usually, as my mother taught me, the woman makes a marriage work, the role you have played equaled mine.

When my cup is feeling empty, you fill it up. You have always made me your priority.

I am grateful every day over the past thirty-three years of marriage that I am Mrs. Sheldon Good.

This Is That Thing Called Love

Shelly Good, every action we take is proceeded by a thought. When I met you in my early 40s, I knew the importance of listening and following my heart. So did you.

When we met, we knew we did not have to look further for love. This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

My first feeling when I saw you get out of the car, before you uttered a word, you took my breath away! I fell head over heels.

This is that thing called love.

Your first words to me were, “I feel I have known you forever.” I felt the same.

This is that thing called love.

Love is electrifying. Love is intoxicating. That is how I felt when I met you. It is how I feel today 33 years later, only more so.

This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

On our momentous first date on that sunny November day, you took me to the Pump Room, a beautiful restaurant, for brunch. After spending two hours together, your thoughts turned to romance.

You turned to me and said, “I made a list of seven qualities I am looking for in a wife. You have all of them. I am going to marry you!” Your words startled me, and my little heart skipped several beats. I knew I would be your wife. I knew and know I was born under a lucky star.

This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

Our thoughts have always flown in the same direction, like a clear water spring, and our actions mirror one another.  If I had made a list of seven requirements I needed in a husband, my list would have matched yours. We are one.

It is magical to live with a like-minded husband. Our in-tune magic keeps the sparks flying. Our in-tune thought brings peace.

This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good

I Love You, Shelly Good

In the few areas where we don’t mirror one another, I find our differences electrifying because two heads are often better than one. You are the Yin, and I am the Yang.

I love you, Shelly Good.

You are the realist and are grounded. I am your creative and adventuresome soul mate. You weigh everything. I have wanderlust. You tend to see the glass half empty. I tend to see the glass half full. You are my safety net, my rock. I am your ‘out-of-the-box experience.’

This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

Do you recall the evening we took the kids to the rib joint? Remember there were sinks scattered to wash our hands after dinner? You said, “Let’s wash our hands.” You noticed I didn’t take a napkin from the table to dry my hands, so you took two. You asked, “Why aren’t you  taking a napkin in case there isn’t a towel?” I replied, “Because there WILL be a towel. You are the Yin to my Yang. This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

Our Fierce Closeness Keeps Us Together

You have allowed me to live my wanderlust lifestyle—together, traveling here and there and exploring new avenues. Remember our adventuresome trip to Syria, Saudi Arabia, and Iran? When I brought these ideas to your attention, you looked perplexed. You were leery, but you saw my enthusiasm and happily said, “Let’s go!” Oh, what adventures we have shared and how we have expanded our knowledge of the world and enhanced our lives as a couple. You have made every dream of mine come true.

This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

One day I said to you, “I miss not having a dog in the house. I’ve always had dogs. Can we get a dog?” You mentioned you’ve never had a dog. But once again, you saw my need, and Orchid Good came into our lives. Now we have America Good, and you are as happy as I am. We are in sync.

This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

We have lived through difficult ordeals: the suicide of a child, Cancer, estrangement from adult children, disloyalty from adult children, and other situations but survived because of our fierce closeness. Our life blows have made our marriage stronger, never breaking our spirit to love life, be grateful, and count our blessings. We are 100% soulmates.

I love you, Shelly Good

You Are My Dearest and Best Friend in The World

You are over the top open with your love. We have no secrets. I tell the world you are my ‘best girlfriend!’  I am so proud of you. Strong, powerful, intelligent, kindhearted, serious, curious, sexy, and charitable. You are ‘my beyond all.’ You excite me! You are the ultimate concierge!

This is that thing called love.

I love you, Shelly Good.

Do you know the secret you hold in your hand to have your wife say,

“There is no one in this world that I love more than you, Shelly Good.”

It is your essence; your presence. It is ‘the you’ in you.

Happy birthday, Shelly Good! May God bless you and keep you,

I Will Love You Eternally.

Yours

Suzi