AN: This story is dedicated to my hubby of 11 years. Happy belated birthday sweetheart!

There are a thousand ways to say "I love you". Some people use gifts and smiles and some people let their silent actions speak for them. I am in love with someone who is the master of both. She can buy me presents from dawn to dusk and still my heart flutters at her simple smile. There are many ways that she shows her love for me.

She irons my dress shirts and matches them with ties so I'll always be ready for court.

She went to one of my roach races and held in her fear so well. She even cheered.

She reminds me to put my glasses in my shirt pocket every evening. (I have a habit of misplacing them all over the lab.)

She learned sign language. "Just in case." She said.

She smiles at my endless sonnets from Shakespeare. I know he's not her favorite.

She rubs Icy Hot into my sore knees after a long shift.

She bought me four opera CD's for my birthday and said that I could play them in the car.

She keeps some of my migraine medication in her purse at all times.

She went with me to put flowers on my father's grave. She held my hand while I cried.

She rode a roller coaster with me even though it made her nauseous.

She fed my tarantula. That was brave of her.

She let me teach her to waltz.

She moved to swing shift so I could stay a supervisor.

She learned to cook.

She let me get that big screen TV to watch Cubs games. (Well, I let her watch American Idol on it too.)

She made room in her heart for me after all that I had done to her.

She agreed to be my wife.

Most of all, she made a decision to confront the demons that had been haunting her for so long. She promised that she would be back. I'll be here waiting. There are a thousand ways to say I love you. Letting the one you love go is probably the biggest way to say it.