I am 63. My husband is 70. We recently celebrated our 11th anniversary and this is a first marriage for both of us. He was a confirmed bachelor and I was a career woman when we met 13 years ago. The rest, as they say, is history. When he became more serious about our relationship than I, I asked for time and space and he gave it to me.

I came to realize what a special person he was when I told him that I have MS. When I told other men that I had dated, they never called again. After I told Tom, he said, with tears in his eyes, "Thank you for trusting me enough to share this with me," and then he called the next day. When I am lacking, he is strong. When I am needy, he provides. When I am down, he cheers me up.

We share many thingslove of music, of friends, of family, of life's experiences. My mother died a few days before one of my birthdays. Tom sent me a letter that (in part) read, "It is hard to focus on the 'happy' part of 'happy birthday,' but that's okay. Happy can come later when you are ready. All I know is that you make me so very happy. I often can't find the words to tell you how much I love you and how much you mean to me. You're everything to me. I love you. I'll always love you. To the moon and stars, and back again. Your loving husband, Tom."

I know he is my soul mate because he makes me happy, fulfilled, complete and satisfied. How blessed we are to have come together. In my innermost being, I also know that I have known him and he has known me our whole lives.