We've Done It Again

I've shelved the Allegory of the Hive through the weekend while I take part in anniversary celebrations!

I'm primping and reflecting on the magic and madness of marital bliss. Tomorrow marks our seventeenth year of marriage; it's beautifully mind boggling given the roads we've traveled. Neither of us come from sparkly Dr. Sears-like upbringings. And, our parents, while, they may have watched the Cleavers' they certainly didn't aspire to live like them. What I'm getting at is, Joe and I essentially built the road we travel and, with very meager tools and teachings.

I watched that reality show once; The Amazing Race, it was during the couples' season. It's the closest physical representation of our marriage that I could use as a springboard for this post.

Some days we've got the maps out, feverishly bumbling about trying to find our way out of one phase and into another. Other days we're victorious, it's those days we're able to recover, process and strategize before the next detour. I get choked up just writing this; we have been tragically lost at times; desperate and even hopeless. And, just like the participants, you vacillate between quitting and sparing yourself the uncertainty, disappointment and shame of losing and, risking it all and just believing in yourself and this other equally lost and clueless person. Some days admittedly, the thought of beating them to death and burying them along the trail seems a viable option. Had I not watched more, exponentially more episodes of Forensic Files than that race show, I might've considered that route a few times. Laughs.

The good thing, like all races, marathons and our marriage is this point we're at right now; the big win, another anniversary, our very own ticker-tape parade. Tomorrow is all about bells, whistles, fine dining and wine (beer for me); a reprieve. A day of rest and reflection before we go back to training and lacing up our shoes for another 365 days on the course. Perhaps we'll move a bit faster this year. While we're still looking lovely as ever, it appears we're not burning as many calories as we once were. And, what's that in our hair you ask? Oh, um it's uh...confetti. Yeah that's what it is, silver confetti!