I am in the shower, and my leg is cranked up on the highest shelf I can reach in the shower, and I'm balanced, trying to shave my legs. I'm all out of my shower gel so I'm using the girls Suave all in one that has a picture of a monkey on it. My razor is dull, and has been for a week. The shower needs a good scrubbing and the shower head needs to be replaced, it droops and in order to be all the way under the spray you have to stand right next to the wall where the shower head is. I'm tired, I worked hard all day, it's my anniversary and we just came back from grocery shopping. I was excited because I got laundry detergent at a 75% discount. We are now going to watch Mrs. Doubtfire with the girls.
I'm 34 years old, and this is my life. Then I think about Maddy and I realize that she's going to be 34 years old in the shower someday wondering about the path her life has taken. I wonder if I am going to be able to teach her how to recognize what happiness is. Can I explain to her that you shouldn't confuse romantic ideals with happiness. That having clean ironed pants waiting for you in the bathroom every morning is a romantic gesture, that it doesn't always have to be sky writing, flowers and jewelry. I doubt it. I still wish sometimes that I would get the big gesture. I think we all do.
I finish my shower and dry off. I go downstairs where they are all eating seafood. We turn on the movie and settle in. I am at home with the three people who mean the most to me on this earth. We're watching a funny movie. We are all healthy, and together. There are a dozen roses in water in the kitchen. I am exactly where I want to be. I will never come home to an elaborately planned surprise party. I'm never going to whisked away for a spontaneous trip. I will however, always have ironed clothes, my coffee made in the morning, be hugged every day when I walk in the door, and have a partner to dance with at our children's weddings. I will have a partner in grandchild spoiling and someone to tell me I'm beautiful when my hair turns gray and gravity catches up with me.
So when you ask me what we did for our anniversary, and I tell you, don't look sad or confused or think, "Ouch, poor girl." I'm the luckiest woman around, and I loved every minute of our day.
I'm 34 years old, and this is my life. Then I think about Maddy and I realize that she's going to be 34 years old in the shower someday wondering about the path her life has taken. I wonder if I am going to be able to teach her how to recognize what happiness is. Can I explain to her that you shouldn't confuse romantic ideals with happiness. That having clean ironed pants waiting for you in the bathroom every morning is a romantic gesture, that it doesn't always have to be sky writing, flowers and jewelry. I doubt it. I still wish sometimes that I would get the big gesture. I think we all do.
I finish my shower and dry off. I go downstairs where they are all eating seafood. We turn on the movie and settle in. I am at home with the three people who mean the most to me on this earth. We're watching a funny movie. We are all healthy, and together. There are a dozen roses in water in the kitchen. I am exactly where I want to be. I will never come home to an elaborately planned surprise party. I'm never going to whisked away for a spontaneous trip. I will however, always have ironed clothes, my coffee made in the morning, be hugged every day when I walk in the door, and have a partner to dance with at our children's weddings. I will have a partner in grandchild spoiling and someone to tell me I'm beautiful when my hair turns gray and gravity catches up with me.
So when you ask me what we did for our anniversary, and I tell you, don't look sad or confused or think, "Ouch, poor girl." I'm the luckiest woman around, and I loved every minute of our day.
Ditto, I agree. You said it best! :)
ReplyDeleteKerri
Ahhh young grasshopper, thoust s learned the most importnat lesson of life so early.... its not what did you get, not where did you go but most importantly who you did it with. As the years progress and the children grow and grandchildren run amuck... it is the fact that you have a partner who knows you better than your self and helps you to enjoy all those moments and laugh as you remmeber the previous years...you both are blessed and loved M
ReplyDeletePretty similar thing happened the other day. It was my girlfriends birthday, we have an 8 week old baby, so are both tired and worn out. We decided rather than going out we would stay in, get a takeaway, watch a good film and get an early night. We both loved it - then as soon as her mum asked what we had done for her birthday, she started saying we were boring etc, just shows how money driven her parents are I guess!
ReplyDelete