When the storybook happens in real life

I feel like a princess, that just found her night in shining armor, like the damsel in distress that was rescued from the tower by the handsome man on horseback. I just kissed a toad, and he turned into a prince! No, actually I realize that my prince has been there all along, and today I am truly seeing him through real and not imagined eyes. He has warts, for sure, and sometimes he turns green, and many times he comes home and plops down in a heap, not very prince like at all. He drags his feet and brings mud in the house when he's not dragging his feet. Oh, yes.. he is handsome, and dashingly witty, and always has a song he's singing to me. He can sweep me off my feet quicker than a broom, and make me forget all about  my Cinderella duties. He cleans up real good, but most the time, its his unshaven face, tired eyes and strong arms that  embrace me at the end of the day that makes me melt into his world and forget about all the cares of mine.  His ability to move heavy stone and leap from one job sight to the next in  a single bound, his hands that are strong enough to crush a soda can in a single squeeze, yet soft and gentle enough to caress me and make my fears disappear. I'm not imagining that this man of mine is perfect and flawless. He is perfectly flawed and amazingly  mine.

When I set out on this journey to find a partner to share my life with, I truly had my sights set high. I knew all the things I wanted and all the ones I didn't want. But the most important was his ability to love me. Because deep down inside, I knew I was not flawless, that my warts would come out at the worst times, that my crooked smile and lying eyes may just show up when I least expected.  I needed someone that would lift me up when I couldn't lift my own spirits. To listen endlessly to my senseless chatter, and pry the words out of me when I remained defenselessly silent. I needed a man who could put up with my bad self even though I would try desperately to keep her from emerging.  Oh its clear to me now that my foot is far too wide to fit into that beautiful glass slipper I so desperately yearned for and my childbearing hips will never fit into that beautiful gown, and that sparkling tiara keeps falling off, no matter how many bobby pins I use. My nose is too big... and my hair is usually tucked up under a hat.  I realize now,  I'm really content to just be who I am.  And I would much rather find a good looking man with a crinkly smile and dirty jeans, who will sweep my off my feet while I'm vacuuming the rug and scrubbing the floor on my hands and knees. A man that will still look at me like I'm the princess of our castle despite my ragged appearance. That man with dirt on his boots, scruff on his chin that turns into that dashingly handsome prince with the warmest smile and puts my soul at ease with just a single kiss. One that sends my heart racing and makes me want to dig into that closet to find that ball gown, muscle on those pretty shoes, dance the night away, and then slowly disappear into the sunset. Now where's that toad.. I think its time for a smooch.