I want to share an amazing moment from this week. My wife Lindsey and I celebrated 15 years together as a couple on Thursday. We dressed up nicely - I was in my favorite dress and heels, which I never get a chance to wear - and went out for dinner and cocktails at a fancy restaurant. At the end of our meal. Lindsey surprised me by getting down on one knee and proposing with a short speech she had prepared. (She told me later that my replacement wedding ring we had picked out a couple of months ago had shown up in the mail the day before, so she had to take the opportunity.) The words that echo in my head the most were when she said “I didn’t think I could love you more… but then I met Erin.” I melted right there. We cried tears of happiness all the way home, and then some after that.
From what I can tell, few relationships survive a partner transitioning. I won the jackpot, because Lindsey has been my champion since day one. She was the first person I could talk with about questioning my gender, she was there for my first girl-in-the-mirror moment, and she started using my name as soon as I realized that I knew it. I wouldn’t be where I am today without her, and I love her so much.