Andy was born old and grumpy. He lost his mother at 4 and had several surgeries as a little boy.When I met him, he never took off his shoes or untucked his shirt. He always looked like he was going somewhere unless he was cleaning something. Which he did a lot - clean stuff. His home in Houston was very "formal" with meals and manners, and I grew up in the total opposite; we never even sat at the table together to eat and NEVER wore shoes, much less in the house. Most pictures of me as a child show me in my panties and nothing else. Nothing was air-conditioned, so the fewer clothes the better. Anyway, back to Andy.

Next month, he turns 52. As we have built our history together, I have watched him relax about things and find more humor and enjoyment in the everyday things of life. I'm sure having the girls paid a big part in it, but I really think what has brought him to this more "laid back" aspect of his life is survival. Yes, he's had to adapt to live with me. He is Mr. Schedule; I am Mrs. Procrastinator. He is form and function and everything in its place; I am "Now where did I put that?" He is black and white; I'm gray. So, it was either adapt to living with me or die of an early ulcer and stroke. I'm really glad he did; he's turning into quite a cute little boy, gray hair and all.

I love him more and more each day.