...all that your partner does for you until they're not around anymore. Since Mike has been gone away to work, I've realized how much I depend on him and all the things that he does for me and this family. I don't take him for granted, because I do notice all the little things that he does. And after eight years of togetherness, we still say "Thank you" for many, many things. "Thank you for cooking supper", "Thank you for taking the garbage out", "Thank you for doing the laundry", "Thank you for starting the van" are all heard many times throughout the week when Mike is home. And I love that.
From the beginning of our relationship, respect and appreciation have been important factors. We have arguments just like any other couple. But in those arguments, there is never, ever any name calling of any kind. No one's an asshole, a bitch or a lazy slob. I remember listening to a friend talk about the fights she and her then-boyfriend used to have and the terrible names they used to call each other. Even after they were married, during one of their fights, the husband took off his wedding band and threw it at her. I have always said to Mike that if we ever stoop to calling each other names (or throwing our wedding rings around), then our relationship is done because that would mean we've lost respect for each other. How would I ever be able to look Mike in the eye after throwing my ring (and all that it symbolizes) in his face?
But I'm beginning to stray from my original thoughts for this post. Since Mike has been away, I'm finding more and more things that I would normally ask Mike to do. Things such as:
- Plunging toilets...not so much a fan of having to do this, but, as the saying goes, don't do the crime... :)
- Putting lotion on my back...somebody needs to create a lotion pad or something where a single person can just lay the pad on the floor and roll around on it to moisturize their skin. I can get my shoulders and my lower back, but there's that one section of skin in the middle that has been neglected for some time now.
- Getting the oil changed... while I'm capable of driving the van to the mechanics' shop, I wouldn't have a clue if I was being ripped off. If they told me the flux capacitor was worn out and in need of replacement, I would probably believe them.
- Shovelling walks...again, I am capable of doing this, but I absolutely detest it. And I don't do a good job. I do the bare minimum so that the city won't give us a fine, the mailperson can deliver the mail without tripping and so that I can get Joel down the ramp and onto the bus. Everything else has remained untouched for the past couple of snow falls. We have over 1000 sq.ft of driveway and I'll be damned if I'm going to shovel it everytime a cloud drops a snowflake (especially while Mike's ski-doo is sitting and smirking at me).
I am so looking forward to our road trip to Alberta this week. It will get me away from the house and its associated duties for a few days and it will give Mike and I some much needed alone time together. Our eight year anniversary is coming up on March 16th so this will be our anniversary present to each other. I really wanted a snow blower as my present, but I'll take what I can get :)
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