it's true what they say

Steve and i have been married for 31 1/2 years. I've always heard that the longer a couple stays together, the more they look like each other, and the more their lives become intertwined. on the first point, I'll have to disagree, because Steve and i look nothing alike. he is slim and trim. i am, well,,Reubenesque, to put it in a kinder and gentler way. he is gray and balding (sorry, honey), while i have gracefully kept my original hair color, and most of it....so far. on the second point, though, I'm here to state that after 30+ years of marriage, my husband and i are completely and intrinsically melded. and most of the time, that is a wonderful and magical state of being. after being with someone for so long, i don't have to explain much to hubby anymore. he knows exactly what ticks me off, he knows when to tune me out, he knows when to be contrite and repentent, har har. and the same on my end. i am SO thankful that God has given me such a wonderful mate. he's been a loving and responsible provider. but...and i only write this because, well, i'm bored today....there is also a truth about long-married life that i haven't heard a whole lot of people speaking or writing about. it is the phenomenon of, let's call it,,separation anxiety...on the part of the husband. example: today i decided to go shopping. at first, steve said he would go with, but i warned him that i wanted to do some REAL shopping,,like clothing, toiletries, etc. and i warned him that when he sits in the truck, supposedly patiently waiting, it only gives me anxiety. so, in the end, he decided to stay home. (yay) i told him i'd probably be gone for 2-3 hours. note: he usually doesn't give me his est. time of return when he goes off somewhere,,but thats okay! so, off i went,,happily free of all fetters. after two hours, i called him to report that i was leaving belks and going on to the grocery store. then i decided to stop at walgreens and the traffic was hideous because the bridge downtown was open, so by the time i did walgreens and the grocery, another hour had passed. i was on my way home, and i KNEW that steve would be starting to wonder about my eta. sure enough, the phone rang, and he asked me if i was "making it okay." God bless him. i know i should be so grateful that i have someone who cares where i am. and i am, believe me! but...what if i had wanted to spend the entire afternoon out shopping? i guess i could have just called and told him, and that is okay too! just every once in awhile...i have the desire to leave the house whenever i want and return whenever i want. but...it's true what they say.....a long marriage binds husband and wife soul to soul, body to body, and your thoughts belong to each other. and i guess that that is a GOOD THING.

Holy Week

For people who believe in the Resurrection, this week is special. Growing up Catholic, this week entailed a LOT of ritual. Too much? I dunno. I think in some respects, the Catholics got it right about Holy Week. I mean, Christ's death and resurrection is THE REASON we claim to be Christians. And how can you celebrate His resurrection without pondering His death and suffering? And so, Catholics spend a lot of time "pondering",,,and playing out the events Jesus lived thru the days before His death. I remember Holy Thursday, and the washing of feet. (altar boys, back when I was a tyke). Good Friday in our house was a solemn day, at least until after 3pm,,the time when Jesus died. No tv, music, etc. It was a subtle reminder to me that Jesus gave His life for me, so maybe I could sacrifice a couple of worldly things on that day. Saturday...I dreaded saturday service. I guess it was a 'watch' type service. But as a little girl, it was just long! Lots of prayers I don't remember, and lots of incense swung around in those mysterious brass containers. They filled the church with exotic smells and aromas, which made the service very otherworldly. And then we went home, and made preparations for the great day...Easter sunday! New dresses, hats, polished shoes...Easter baskets full of candy hidden in our house. So,,I have a place in my heart for Holy Week. It IS holy. It IS special, because the entire week is a prelude to the glorious and wonderful miracle of Easter. Because He lives, I will live in eternity. No doubts, and no fears need I have. Jesus paid the price, and I am the unworthy recipient of His merciful gift. Happy Easter to all of you!

slogging thru winter, lowcountry style

it's the middle of february, and we had actual snow last night. usually by now, there are many days in succession of wonderfully warmer weather. by now, i am thinking of plants and flowers and outfoxing the deer. not this year. this year, it's one day after another of either sunny, cold, and wind, or cloudy and damp. ocean damp, bone chilling damp. so my husband and i spend our days at work going from yard to yard picking up debris from the last storm. it's getting just a bit old. i know those of you who live where the snow has been falling daily, weekly, monthly, hold no sympathy for me. i totally understand. but, doggonit! we moved down here to escape some of this miserable stuff called winter weather! i used to make fun of older folks who moved to florida. i was blind, but now i see...their reasons. the bright spot in this long and tedious winter has been my family. my husband has taken up cutting fish out of aluminum and painting them,,mounting them on salvaged pieces of wood. we are being surrounded by wonderfully painted, colorful fish! my daughters are great sources of joy and humor and good news. i recently learned that my youngest is pregnant. my oldest daughter reminds me that i am so blessed to have God-fearing and loving children. so,,let winter flail her fury. i am peaceful and it is well with my soul.

the boat races

so, these boat races,,,pretty awesome. like nascar on water,,only way more exciting. AND, more accessible. we paid 15 bucks to gain entry to the race village, where all the boats and drivers were staging. it was pretty cool to be able to walk up to the concrete wall and look over and see these tremendously expensive boats just right there. they even had a grandstand. i am sure that this will be a trip we will be making again. steve and joe were enthralled, of course, and i must admit, it was totally spine-tingling to see all the horsepower and sleek lines of these million dollar machines. there was even a sheik from qatar who had two boats entered. i thnk i got a pic of one of his trucks.

key west museum

we went to key west twice while we were there. both times to see the boat races, but also to go to a museum i wanted to see. the key west art and history museum specifically. they had mostly works by a folk artist named mario sanchez. wood cuttings/carvings. amazing stuff. and a room dedicated to ernest hemmingway's time in key west. i just loved the building.

better view of steve on the 'pilar'

better view of our little piece of paradise