I've always been a reflective thinker and a person who likes to verbally process personal experience and social issues. My relationships have always been passionate and intimate. Well I don't recall any of my earlier relationships, even the lengthy ones ever involving any argumentation, I would not say they were stress free.

Each woman I was ever with would comment on my needs for verbal and physical intimacy as being a little unrealistic and felt my intensity to be a tad wearing. I myself, though grateful and appreciative of what we had, always wanted more and always felt that we were somehow not living up to the full potential of our relationship. No matter what was shared or discussed I always felt we could be more intimate.

Beyond My Dreams is a celebration of when I found a woman (now my spouse) which finally satiated my need for intimacy. Though I still wanted more, I was finally satisfied with the overall progress and depth of intimacy. She was just as verbal as I and loved to process the personal and social.

While my passion for life was very up front, her way was gentle and patient. While I devoured life and shared every thought, she was diplomatic and calm. Despite her more reserved nature I usually found her a willing and vibrant participant in my constant exploration and disclosure. I wanted to learn patience from her and how to feel intensely with joy rather than urgency.

There is a woman who unfolds my heart
She came like a whisper the song of a lark
Her way is patient, delicate and brave
I only pray my love’s that way

Her way of being in the world seemed quite healthy, and in some ways opened me up to some of life's subtleties that I often missed by my brusque intensity.

If I could only give her what she give to me
Could I ever give her what she gives to me?

She not only was an able and willing partner in my quest for intimacy, but she provided forms and formats of intimacy of which I was previously not aware.

If I be granted one talent beyond my strength it would be
To have her feel the beauty that she is
All thru life I have dreamt how I want to love
She puts those dreams to shame

Most of my friends found my relationship goals and expectations to be unrealistic. They told me that my ideals were preventing me from truly appreciating the beautiful relationships I was in, and that I would someday regret my foolishness.

Well I have been a very fortunate person who has been able to live and love Beyond My Dreams. Though we have been married for over 30 years I still am enthralled with life and our relationship and still see no end in sight to growth in the quality and depth of our intimacy.

You have me live beyond my dreams
Love beyond my dreams
Beyond my dreams where we belong
The land of love beyond song

Maybe one day my ability to be intimate will wane like the rest of my senses and talents, but until that day arrives I will continue to push the envelope of intimacy and try to find it in all I do, think, feel and sense.