When we’d meet new people who would ask how we met, I’d tell them the story. “We met in 6th grade.” They would inevitably follow up with “Wow! Did you DATE that whole time?” I’d respond to that with a brief history of our dating life, including our first breakup and stint on homecoming court. “We peaked at fifteen” was a favorite joke of mine. I used it again recently when my freshman nephew and his special friend-who-is-also-a-girl were made his school’s homecoming court representatives. “Don’t be like me and Uncle Bobby,” I joked, “Don’t peak at 15!”
This past week I came across that photo of us above, our homecoming court photo. I have it saved on my phone. And the “peaked at 15” joke flashed in my head.
But the truth is, we didn’t peak at 15. No, we’ve never been voted on for any awards by our kids since then, but we’ve done pretty well. Especially me.
I’ve done well because, I’ve got him. He’s been my husband for 17 years this month, which makes me the lady with the best and the most that anyone could ever want.
He’s done a lot of things over those 17 years that no one every wins an award for. Like, help his post c-section, super-sick wife pull her postpartum hospital undies up and down and help me get on and off the toilet (that’s also a FUN STORY), just four short years after I was his blushing bride. Like, change every diaper on that first baby boy for an entire week so I didn’t have to get up and down when I wasn’t feeling up to it. Like work really, really hard at the same job to provide for his family. Like, this past weekend, do every. single. thing. for an entire weekend of birthday parties for that baby boy who is now THIRTEEN, because I hurt my back and could barely move. Like order dinner in for my BFF and me and take the kids OUT, so I could have some girl time with my friend from the comfort of my couch because I’m still not up to moving around much.
The truth is, I’m not sure if I’ve peaked yet. But I know WE haven’t. This man shows me every day how good and sweet and wonderful he is. And at age 39 (yes we’re BOTH 39, but you can bet he’s SUPER-EXCITED about me turning FORTY before he does this year!!), every time I think he couldn’t be any better, he proves me wrong.
However, he DID let me put eyeliner on him for this 80s rock star Halloween costume this past year. (I was Richard Simmons, sexy, right?) So….maybe we peaked last October (when yes, I was 39 but he was STILL 38)…this is gonna be HARD to top!
#MarriageGoalz
I love you, babe. Thanks for being more than I could ever dream of.
