Happy Anniversary!
Happy Anniversary to me… and to you, America, because today marks our 9th year together.
I don’t think you wrote this day down in your calendar, as I did, but I’m sure I at least gained a spot in your immigration records. Although in rather formal way, it’s nice to know that you put me down among your relevant dates, if anything, the ones you monitor.
We’ve been living together for 9 years and, in this regard, you are officially my longest relationship.
Like all affairs, it’s had its ups and downs. At the beginning you played hard to get, keeping me at a distance with all your visa rules and everything that comes with them. When it finally came down to committing to something more serious and long term (namely, the greencard), you made me go through such painful times. I kept saying that you really tested people’s intentions with all the hassles we have to bear to be with you permanently.
In fairness, I have to say that if it all became too much for me to handle, you would have let me go with no hard feelings. You are certainly not an oppressive nor a controlling partner. If anything, you have always made me feel free. Not the most desired, at times, but always free.
You don’t need to court anybody, because everybody chases you, but you give back the love you get in your own special way. For example, you made me discover new aspects about myself. You made me passionate about things I did not even take into consideration, before I moved in with you. If I’m brave, you reward me. If I take risks, you open new doors. It must be your way of showing you care.
In some instances, it wouldn’t hurt if you had a bit more maternal instinct. To this point, may I suggest you exchange notes with your allied country Italy? It’s great to making it on our own, but sometimes a little more support is needed.
At the same time, I can’t deny that the degree of independence and the arrays of possibility you offer is unparalleled. During these years together you taught me a new order of magnitude for dreams, for opportunities… and for serving sizes: all giant.
I started to explore you in more depth, but there are still so many parts of you, which I don’t know. Please give me some time, and I’ll visit all of them. I would need a car, though, because I have the impression that the best way to travel together with you is on the road.
By the way, good job in putting yourself in a very strategic position. With all the relations you form, you must have learned very fast that it’s best to keep the in-laws at a distance and you conveniently put yourself between two Oceans to make sure it would be quite a journey for all visitors. Indeed, it’s usually I, who flies to Italy to spend some time with my family.
I know you want to play it cool, but I wanted to tell you that it’s very sweet that every time I’m back from my travels you greet me at customs with a warm Welcome Home! It makes me so happy.
