summer – My Idiotic Bliss

I cheated on sunshine today. She’s been away for a while now anyway.

Lately she’s just been … kinda cold.

I’ve missed her so … her warm rays touching my skin. Warming my bare legs and kissing my cheeks, shoulders and neck.

She was no good for me though, I was burned more than once.

I should have known.

I spent so many days in her embrace, lounging in her abundant attention. We beached, we floated the river, we visited amusement parks and we cruised the highway together.

I was true to her. I dared not enter the gym for months. I spent all of my free time encompassed within her rays.The time has come though, I had to go back. I was welcomed although my body protested to turn back time, back to our lazy summer affair.

I will mourn our breakup with leggings, boots and sweaters. I will try to find joy in the changing scenery. I will try not to notice how beautifully the reds, yellows and golden hues in the trees complement my still bronzed skin.

I will try not to mind the pumpkin spice in the air and the crisp coolness that makes bonfires so enticing.

I will try.

I will try not to miss sunshine until she comes back to me. After all it really is just a matter of time.

It was this time last year that our home state made our marriage legal. We were so excited, it was like a second wedding day. Sorta like that … but without rain, stress, arguments or blisters. Good times.

So in the spirit of a (sort of) one year wedding anniversary I compiled the top 10 best of best things that happened this last year, our first full year of being legally married in our home state.

We survived new car envy. She bought I convertible, I got jealous. We now share our vehicles. Whats mine is mine. What is yours is now mine too. I’m pretty sure it was in the vows.
The kids went away for the summer and we managed to focus a little time on us. Every relationship needs a little space alone to develop. Ours developed into missing the kids after a couple month extended honeymoon. Whatever works.
We went to the beach, several times. There is nothing like feeling the sand between your toes. Or the sand hitting you in the face as it swirls around the car, coming off your beach gear. That’s what happens when you shove the sandy gear into the back of that super cute, top down convertible you HAD to take for the trip.
We watched fireworks for the 4th, from our mountain spot, all by ourselves. It was kinda romantic and super beautiful. The other fireworks throughout the year on the mountain, likely scaring the neighbors into calling for backup, maybe not so much romantic as horrifying. We are trying to keep our arguments to ourselves now. Sorry y’all.
We learned to budget. Just kidding, no we didn’t. We bought a new car and went to the beach a few times. We can’t seem to save any money. I have no idea why.
She learned to cook. Well, not really cook, but she can grill like nobody’s business. Thinking about our 1 year anniversary steak dinner she magically produced is making me hungry, 3 months later.
I changed my last time to hers. Finally. She ran out and changed the name on the mailbox … I am still learning to sign it. Or to recolonize it when called.
We made new friends. Together. Couple friends. That isn’t easy considering we are so different. It is almost like getting a raise, the one you don’t think it will ever happen. All of a sudden you are eating more than soup from a can, in your one room apartment, while talking to your cat before bedtime at 8pm. It’s a big wide world out there when you have couple friends to go explore it with.
We found new things to explore together. Places to go, things to do, food to eat and fancy new beer to try. Again, a big deal because when we first met we didn’t have much more in common than mutual lust. No shame. None.
Last but certainly most important: Nobody was seriously injured or died. I’m not kidding, it was a close call a few times. Marriage is hard, apparently so is smothering your beloved with a pillow.