Rule: Love is being there when times are hard.

About 6 months into my relationship with Steve, I started to notice that I developed two strange bumps above and below my left eye. I went to my optomotrist and they claimed that they were internal styes. No big deal, I went on antibiotics and they told me to put hot compresses on the eye to reduce the swelling. After a week of literally putting a hot potato on my eye wrapped in a damp washcloth (their suggestion---Steve called me "Spuds"), the bumps were not one bit better and I called my doctor back again. They told me to continue with the compresses for another week, but I had a sinking suspicion that there was more to this than met the "eye". We did this "dance" for another few weeks, my going back to the doctor again, and the "experts" prescribing the "potato cure". Finally, after 6 weeks of this nonsense, they sent me to an optholmologist to check me out. After everyone in the practice looked, they called this a "unique" situation (NEVER good in medical terms)and referred to to an optholmolic facial plastic surgeon. I didn't have to be a rocket scientist to know that I was going to need surgery for whatever was happening to me. I went to a brilliant doctor who sent me for a battery of tests, catscans etc. and was diagnosed as having two tumors that were growing on my upper and lower orbital bones!...They had no idea if they were malignant, but would run a biopsy on the tissue behind the bone to determine such. Surgery was scheduled for two weeks. My stepdad volunteered to take me to the hospital, but Steve said that he just assumed that he was going to do it, and wanted to do it(love him). What impressed me more was the fact that his family was up for a visit from Florida at this time, yet he cleared everything on his schedule to be with ME. He is really a funny guy, and he kept my spirits up the entire time before I was wheeled away. Here I was, no makeup, no hair done, black and blue eye after the surgery, and he didn't even wince. ;) My surgeon did amazing work and there is literally NO scar, whatsoever around my eye. Steve spent the next two days staying with me, putting frozen peas on my face for swelling (back to the vegetables!) and just being there. I knew from this whole experience that this would be a man who would support me, no matter what in my life. It's easy to love when everything is "coming up roses", but to REALLY love, is to be there when things get "complicated." This was quite an affirmation for me in the terms of our relationship. Why this all happened to me, I will save for my next post.