Martin and I are in Kelowna visiting his dad. We are coming up on two years together and, as we sat in the hotel’s sauna watching sweat drip from our faces, I reflected on how far we’ve come.
We joke about “You know this isn’t a new relationship when…” or, “You know the bloom is off the rose when…” Off the top of my head:
- You sit in a sauna and see who can get ten drips of sweat off their face the fastest.
- Your boyfriend says, “You’ve got a chin hair” and reaches over to pluck it.
- On a particularly tight turn past Rogers Pass, you tell your boyfriend, “Could we try to take it on four wheels this time?” (because you’re no longer convinced clenching your butt cheeks together will keep you on the road).
- You pee with the bathroom door open so the conversation doesn’t have to stop.
- Your boyfriend offers to give you a pedicure and, upon seeing the calluses on your feet tells you, “You don’t need a pedicurist, you need a farrier!”
It’s the shared moments. When we think of these things, we smile or laugh. I like that we’re past having to be on our best behaviour all the time.
I’m very fortunate. In addition to these funny moments, I’ve got a guy who:
- tells me daily that he loves me (usually, several times a day)
- loves to cook (and takes all my dietary restrictions into account)
- gives hugs and kisses in public whenever the mood strikes him
- helps around the house without having to be asked or expecting thanks
- makes an effort to understand what I do for a living (to most, it looks like I sit at a computer all day….well, I do…)
- actually listens when I talk and doesn’t try to “solve” things; instead, he asks questions and shares his perspective
- helps me take my dad to medical appointments so I don’t have to go into the mens’ room when Dad needs to pee
- buys plants for my home because he knows I like them
- puts my feet on his lap when we’re on the couch watching TV
- falls asleep with his arm around me
We’re sitting together on the couch and he asks, “What are you thinking about Bubaloo?”
“I’m trying to think of a way to end this blog.”
“Try: The End”.
Sometimes, he does have an answer to my problems.