March 30, 2020 - 199 - "Couples, Contentment, Covid, and Captivity"

Having Fun:  Not Always What You Think It Is

   One morning, a week or so ago, Michael and I were sitting in bed, lazily drinking coffee.  Mainly we were each in our own world.  Michael was probably reading the latest news updates, and I was probably avoiding reading the latest news updates like the plague.  (No pun intended.)

   John Lennon's song 'Love' came on the radio.  Actually, I guess ‘radio’ is an archaic term.  The song came up on the Echo?  Alexa played the song?  It came up in the Pandora shuffle?  Whatever...I heard this song:

     "Love"
      by John Lennon

     Love is real, real is love

     Love is feeling, feeling love 

     Love is wanting to be loved.

Me:  I'm having so much fun.

Michael:  Me too.

     It turns out that happiness isn't anything like what you think it will be when you're, say, in junior high school. 

     It's not being swept off your feet...it's playing footsie a couple of decades on.  It's not about looking like the ready-for-her-closeup actress in the latest romance movie, it's about wearing your sweats and being loved in spite of how you look, (and sometimes in spite of who you're being in the moment).

     It’s more about deep contentment than passing exhilaration.

Nothing Like a Good Pandemic to Bring People Together

   It's about tolerating each other's faults and foibles, even when you're around them for longer than you ever thought possible...or even desirable.

    Michael and I had a lot of plans about how much time we'd be spending together when he retired.  But, as it turned out, in 2019 we spent less time together than at any other point in our relationship.  Mostly this was because of the house project in Mexico.

   ...enter the Covid-19 virus...and, suddenly, on my days off anyhow, we've got nothing but time together!  Thank you, Corona!

Enjoying Yourself:  Day ?? of Captivity

    So now, the wisdom of Michael building his office is starting to pay dividends.  (i.e.  Nobody dies.).

     We both love, appreciate, and are endlessly grateful for our together time.   Still, if I'm honest, I notice we appreciate each other even more when we get lots and lots of quality 'apart' time.

Good Fences Make Good Neighbors  Marriages

     Now,  that pre-retirement measure of having an office above the garage,  allows us to each do our own thing most days...maybe with a break for lunch together.  For the most part we're able to think our own thoughts and have our own space.

    Then we have dinner together, watch TV, sit in the hot tub, or on the patio...talk for hours...and get to remember how crazy we are about each other.

    I hope everyone has someone to connect with...and also the opportunity to social distance when you want a little breathing room from your overly-near-est and dearest.

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"Before you marry a person, you should first make them use a computer with slow internet service to see who they really are."

-Will Ferrell

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"Real love amounts to withholding the truth, even when you're offered the perfect opportunity to hurt someone's feelings"

-David Sedaris
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"How Can I Miss You When You Won't Go Away?"

-country song by Dan Hicks

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