Togetherness

We're heading to Alabama in a few days and I am really looking forward to being back there. After a long day of driving and taking care of the pups on the road, when we finally drive up the hill to the house, it will feel like we're coming home. Not our only home, but home, nevertheless. I love our little house. When I take my fancy, dancy key out of my purse, unlock the lock and walk in the door, I relax a little.

I always leave it clean so it's a pleasure to enter. The first thing I do is go to the back of the house and start checking out things to make sure all is well. Laundry room/bathroom-check. Blue carpeted bedroom-check. Pale yellow bedroom-check. Second bathroom-check. Our bedroom, living room--all is well. I look over the kitchen, in the fridge, freezer, the cabinets--we're golden.

Then we start carrying in all the stuff we've brought from Florida to make our next couple of weeks comfy. I bring enough food to carry us over a day or so until I can get to the grocery store and I also make sure I have a few appliances that I don't have duplicates for like my blender, rice steamer and my iron. We always bring the pups' crates, food, cookies and blankies and until this trip we've had to bring things to help furnish the house or the soon-to-be apartment. Our house is pretty well supplied now and while we still have some stuff stored for the apt, it isn't necessary to bring it on this trip. The work we do this time will be with supplies we already have on hand. I plan to do some painting and gophering for Byron while he does the real work.

I can't wait to see how the landscape has changed since our previous visit. The tree lined driveway and surrounding hills have gone from lush and green, to golds and reds, to sparsely covered landscape that's open for viewing way up the hills. This time should bring the fullness of bright greens and wildflowers. I've decided I'm going to start putting my food scraps out in an open place so when I look out my door at night I might see some creature having a midnight snack. I can't wait!

It's fun for Byron and I to spend time alone. Even though we've been married nearly 41 years, we haven't had a lot of time with it being just us. We had children early on and then life took over quickly. We missed that early marriage "getting to know you" phase. Getting away to a place far from the regular daily grind, cooking for just two and working on common projects are helping us grow together even more as we get older. Many couples grow apart as they mature and this helps us bond tighter. My advice for married couples would be to make time to do things together. Just you two. It's vital to have your spouse as your best friend as well as lover, house mate, and partner.

It's funny and I never thought about it much until recently but when I look at my dear husband, I don't see a balding, 61 yr old with a sweet belly. When I look at him, whether he's spiffy and dressed for church or dirty after a long work day, I see the young, handsome boy with those deep brown eyes that I fell in love with in 1968. I think he's cute and I love to see him smile at me. It makes me feel like that slender, naturally blonde, 16 yr old he fell in love with way back when.

Yes, I'm looking forward to this trip even though a few days after we're there I'll get homesick for my kids and grandkids and I'll wish I could pop home for a few hours to see them, but I'll call and talk and cry a little and it will eventually pass and I'll get back into the Alabama groove. We'll work, eat together and talk a lot. When our time is gone, we'll head south, ready for some family time with our children--all of them. We'll be refreshed and renewed and ready for life back here at this home, and we'll probably be a bit closer than when we left.

Thank you for my husband, Lord. He's the perfect one for me. You did good.

Suz