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April 13, 2021

Dear Kip,

Happy Birthday!  I know it is cliché to say, but I am going to say it anyway.  The last year has gone by so quickly, in the blink of an eye!  Just think, one year ago I hadn’t even known you for two months when your birthday rolled around, but I knew you were my forever love.  We were in a worldwide pandemic and lockdown, so I didn’t buy you a birthday present.  (Besides, what do you buy for the man who already has a sousaphone and prosthetic leg?)  Instead, I gave you a promise that I would love you forever by giving you my Grandma Margaret’s potato ricer (super romantic, I know).  Today, I’m going to renew that promise to you, but instead of giving you another antique kitchen utensil, I am going to ask you to write a Bucket List with me.  A Bucket List of dreams and promises for us to complete together, you and me, for the rest of our lives.  You in?

I’ll start…Get a puppy.  

Love you always,

Brandy Lynne

13

February 19, 2021

Dear Kip,

One week prior to February 19, 2020, I was frustrated with online dating and giving up on the hope of meeting someone to spend my life with, to love forever.  Three weeks after February 19, 2020, the world entered into a year of stay at home orders, quarantine, teaching and working from home, mask mandates, overloaded hospitals, loss of loved ones, racial protests, dipping oil prices, job loss, and lack of respect in the government.  In 2020, the world lost its sense of normalcy; but in 2020, I met you and found my forever.

Can you believe that it was precisely one year ago today that we met?  We spent way too much of the day texting, and by the afternoon, I was so captivated by you that I knew I needed to meet you.  I had to put a face and voice to the words in my inbox.  You agreed, and after my kids fell asleep, I snuck out to your pick-up, and we talked and talked...and now here we are today.

As I have been anticipating our one-year mark, I’m not going to lie; I have been daydreaming quite a bit about marrying you.  Maybe it’s because of the new year?  Maybe it’s because you are making so much progress on the house remodel?  Maybe it’s because you made my heart skip a beat when you gave me a ring at Christmas! Whatever it is, marriage has been on my brain.  And with marriage on the brain, I have been thinking about my name.  Brandy Lynne Spitzer-Tjelde. 

Seventeen years ago, I had no intention of changing my last name. I was a Spitzer, and that meant something to me. Not only was I very proud of my Spitzer heritage, but I was also a wee bit of a liberal feminist and wondered why in the world any woman would want to change her name. So rather than completely changing my name, I compromised, and I have officially been Brandy Lynne Spitzer-Tjelde since 2004.

Now, here we are in 2021, and as I daydream about marrying you, I am again contemplating what to do with my name.  (I know that we aren’t even engaged, but I am a planner, and having a plan for my name is important to me.  I do not want to make a rushed decision.)  So, should I stay Brandy Spitzer-Tjelde?  Or should I change to Brandy Spitzer?  Maybe Brandy Spitzer-Hurley?  Brandy Tjelde-Hurley?  Brandy Hurley?

Here is the thing that I know for sure right now, I am who I am, no matter what my name is. I am me, Brandy Lynne.  I am a teacher, a daughter, and a friend. Most importantly, I am Jeffrey and Macy’s mama and I am your partner forever. 

Love you always,

Brandy Lynne...

12

February 14, 2021

Dear Kip,

It’s Valentine’s Day and what better to write about than love. 

When I was young, my Sammy Gayle used to tease me that I had to fall in and out of 100 times before I could get married and she teased me that I was on my way.  I may not have fallen in love 100 times, but I have fallen in love a few times.  Each of those has given me a gift and has taught me something different about love.  But it is you, Kip, that has given me the greatest gift of all.  You have given me the gift of true love.  You have given me patience and passion.  Quality time, thoughtfulness, and joy.  A home to fill with our big, blended family. Unconditional love that fills my heart with peace and security.  There will never be enough words to thank you for all you have given me in the last year. 

I hope that you know how lucky and grateful I am to have met you, to have fallen in love with you.  In return, here is what I will promise you.  I promise that I will never take you for granted and I will love you more with each passing day.  I promise that I will love forever and unconditionally, and that you will be my greatest love story.  You may not have been my first love, but you will be my last.  This is promise you. 

Love you always,

Brandy Lynne