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When Jon first blew his knee out eight years ago, he was having trouble sticking with his physical therepy. We were only dating at the time. But he was on a cane, and the doctor felt he should have been off of it, or at least making more progress. So on a date, at a movie, I think Titan A. E., he was gloomy and convinced he would never walk without the cane again. I told him that if he would do his physical therapy religiously, and get better I would take him to England and we would climb the Tor in Glastonbury together. He didn’t believe me. He gave me that look. The one that says, no one would be serious about that. You’re kidding. I gave my look back. The one that you either come to value and love, or dread. It depends on why you’re getting the look, I guess. I gave him the look that means that I absolutely mean what I say, every word. I gave him my promise. He finally believed me. He did his physical therapy, and a couple of years later, we took Trinity, Jon’s parents, and us, and we all climbed the Tor. It was a magical vacation.

I asked Jon what mountain he wanted me to pick this time for him to climb when he is all better. He thought about it, and finally decided he wanted a return trip to Glastonbury. I can live with that. So, when he’s all better, and we can get our affairs in order we’ll be back in England. Because I mean what I say, and say what I mean, and if you can get me to give you my word, I will keep it. Old fashioned? Maybe. But if your promise isn’t worth anything, then are you? I’ve never thought so.

I’ve got to go get Jon up and around for going to the hospital. Eek! But this day is the beginning of our next trip to England. I will hold onto that. No, wait, the beginning of the trip was the moment my husband turned those blue eyes, with their up-tilted edges, so exotic, and those ginger lashes to me, and said, "I’ll take a return trip to Glastonbury." What did I say, with those eyes, that face, my love, gazing into my eyes? "Deal."

Real romance isn’t always about poetic phrases, or saying out loud everything you’re feeling. Some of the most real romance in the world is about being able to count on each other. Give me stability, dependability, over all the long stem roses in the world. I can buy my own damn roses, but I can’t buy a man who truly loves me, and is truly dependedable. A price above rubies, and all that.