I’ve said it before, and I’ll say it again: I don’t need flowers, poems, or over-the-top gestures. One of the most romantic things Randy does for me is sterilize my nebulizer cups.

But it hasn’t always been that way…

Spending a lifetime dealing with the challenges and unpredictability of CF can make a person (me ) long to control whatever tiny thing they can.

The things I can control are related to my healthcare routine. I may not get to determine the outcome or know what bumps lie in the road ahead, but if I do everything within my power in a very specific way, I can face the unknown with a bit more composure.

(Yes, I’ve talked about my control issues in therapy.)

When Randy came into my life and wanted to start helping with things related to my care, I wasn’t sure I wanted him to! It took a long time for me to let him take over certain tasks (even small ones like sterilizing nebs) and it wasn’t an easy thing for me to do.

But in time, I learned that letting go of some of the smaller things is not only okay to do, it’s pretty freaking awesome!

While he and I both know I’m totally capable of doing things on my own, it’s nice to know that I don’t always have to.

He’s got my back.
And my nebs.
And to me, that’s real love.