Ode To My Husband

The day my husband introduced himself to meThe final day before GM’s annual 2 week shutdownWhen he substituted for a team memberAt a meeting I was conveningI distinctly remember thinking“Isn’t that cute, this farm boy coming over to meet me…Why can’t Mr. Wonderful come introduce himself to me like this?”I was 31, he was 24But he’s an old soul[I was told at 18 I was going to marry someone younger than me, and thought the guy was an idiot. He was not.]Two women we worked tricked us into touching base with each other over the ensuing monthsAnd when one of them returned from 3 weeks in Japan and said,“He is the best person I’ve ever traveled with”I actually remember my interest in him changing as she finished her sentence.26 years later, we are celebrating our 24th anniversaryOur wedding date was 10-02-2001We got married on our lakeside porch on a Tuesday to secure the palindromeAnother sign things were meant to be:My father’s name was Guy, my mother’s name is JackieHis mother’s name was Gay, his father’s name was JackAstrology did not bode well for us, thoughCapricorns are warned to stay far away from GeminiAnd in the Chinese zodiac, his tiger and my monkey are inauspiciousBut all these years later I can tell youI have felt loved every single dayAnd I have loved him every single dayThe first 12 or so years, I was surprised every dayI’m happy to report I’ve settled into itHe’s been a tremendously caring and available fatherAnd a profoundly engaged partnerHe knows how to fix things, invent things and build thingsAnd he cleans up after himself when he’s doneHe’s a total unicornHe’s put up with more than he should have toAnd I’m incredibly lucky to spend each day with himHe’s let me share our difficulties with only minimal flinchingAnd been supportive truly every day all these yearsMy heart breaks at my inability to provide meaningful income these last many yearsHe deserves someone who can pull their own weightStill he wakes up kind and calm and happy every dayAnd I am clear I am among the luckiest women in the worldI can vouch for the ‘best person to travel with’ monikerAlthough at this moment we’re most content staying close to homeWe’ve raised two children to adulthood, which has been wonderfulBut, as ‘our song’ says The Best Is Yet To ComeAnd, with him, I believe it.I never imagined I could feel so peaceful in my heartSo calm in my mind, so balanced in my daysFor all my practices, it’s the field we’ve created that makes it possibleThank you, TuckerHappy Anniversary, My Love This is a public episode. If you would like to discuss this with other subscribers or get access to bonus episodes, visit fallingtenderly.substack.com