Valentine’s Day Readers’ Stories
Editor’s note: This is one of five stories written by our readers, in honor of Valentine’s Day.
First off, my name is Shira Geiger-Gevirtz and I grew up knowing three things: I want children, I want to someday own a Toyota Tacoma, and I want to get married. And yes, I believe it was in that order. In the past I worked at a Jewish pre-school, for six years I worked with at-risk youth ages zero – twelve, I took many Early Childhood Education classes, and for a time contemplated becoming a teacher. In September of 2009 I moved across the country from California to Maryland to work for a national service program. I work outdoors doing what I love and sometimes I get to teach children about it too.
I fell in love in October. I never believed in love at first sight. I did not believe that two people could meet and just know that this is right. The second night that we hung out we played Uno and War from 7pm until 3am. At first there were others around, people joined the games and left again until around 10pm. She shuffled the cards and I told her that she “had good handsâ€. I think that was the only “smooth†line I have ever uttered in my life. At some point our hands touched and I never wanted to let go. We kissed for the first time that night and we were so nervous that it took at least an hour, but it was an amazing first kiss. The best I have ever had and definitely worth the wait. At 5am, we finally went our respective ways. In the four months that we have been together we have been through a surprising amount of hardships and a whole lot of joy. I know that with her my dreams will come true, and our goals can become a reality.
My family cannot wait to meet her. My father will soon be ordained as a Rabbi and someday he would like to perform our wedding ceremony. The only thing standing in our way of making it all come true is the law. I want to stand in front of my friends and family and pronounce my love for her and I want it to be legal. I want our children to grow up knowing their parents are equal citizens and have the same rights and responsibilities as any other couple.
I’m almost twenty-one and people ask me why the piece of paper is so important to me, why, when most people my age are dismissing it, why I want to someday have that? I want those responsibilities, I want it someday written on a piece of paper, I want to know hospitals and the IRS and lawyers to know it’s real. I want family and friends and co-workers to know. I want to say “this is my wife,†not my partner. I want it, because our love is real.
Shira Geiger-Gevirtz