9

"A careful reading of Plato makes it clear that love ... always has an object.  Although we may love a person, according to Plato, it is the essence of beauty that draws us to the person." (Psychology of Love, Bernard Murstein)

Murstein goes on to say that while physical beauty may draw us to a person, we continue to love and grow in our love as we learn to appriciate their moral and intelectual beauty. 

I've also heard that our love of a person enhances their beauty in our eyes, both physically and otherwise.  That, at least to us the object of our love is more beautiful, more wonderful, more amazing than any other. 

Does love leave us blind and deluded?  I don't think so.  Everybody knows that their beloved has faults.  We may even choose to overlook them completely or pretend they don't exist, but deep down - we know, ... we know.

While this is turning into a less than flattering anniversary post I've been thinking a lot about the last 9 years of my life and man, we've been through some tough times but Phillip, despite your infinite idiosyncracies and shortcomings - you are more beautiful, more wonderful, more amazing to me now than ever before and I love you.  Happy Anniversary!