My Valentine’s love story may be different from others, but I know it is the most important love I could have ever found or ever hoped to ask for.

Twenty-five years ago on Valentine’s Day, I met the most important love of my life. He had jet black hair and the most beautiful eyes of anyone I had ever met.  He looked at me and I knew, from that moment on that I would never leave him and he would never leave me. Our relationship grew and he was the most important thing to me…although I didn’t make things easy on him.

I was addicted to drugs and alcohol for most of our relationship and that became more important than him. He, being the strong and wonderful man that he is, stood by me, through EVERYTHING.  He was stronger and showed more bravery than any other man, or person, I had ever met. I still can’t believe to this day that I never lost him and he never turned his back on me. For this I can never be grateful enough that God blessed me with him. He is everything to me and I will never be able to make amends for all of the mistakes I made with him, but I know in my heart that he knows if I could go back and change everything, I would.

He has managed to become this amazing man and an amazing father, in spite of everything I put him through. I can honestly say that no other man could or would ever mean to me what this man does.

This man I am speaking of is my son, Christopher. He was born on Valentine’s Day, 1982. That was the most important day of my young life. He helped me raise his little brother and he gave me a grandson who is the joy of my life. I have been clean and sober for two years now and I thank God everyday that my son loves me in spite of myself.

And that is my Valentine’s Day love story. Happy Birthday Christopher!

I had lived in Tehachapi for 28 years and moved to San Diego to start my new journey to recovery, but my son and his family still live there. I still call Tehachapi home.