It’s been a while since I’ve written. Things got real busy there for a while, and writing had little choice but to take a back seat. I’m glad to be able to get back to it.
The wedding was beautiful. Everyone says their wedding was beautiful, but the day was masterfully crafted by all of our family and friends, by Tide the Knot Weddings for an amazingly choreographed ceremony and fantastically professional photography, by the Salt Rock Grill for a glorious and fun reception, and God himself for the perfect day. It was truly one of the best days of my life that I will remember and treasure always.
Since we’ve returned to Iowa, we’ve begun settling back into our normal routine as one would expect. Maybe it’s just the haze of marital bliss, but I can see nothing but great things ahead in life. It is so encouraging, and it makes every day a joy. I never want this feeling to end. As Cheryl says, “I just want to be wrapped up with you around me and never let this happy time pass us by.” I couldn’t express it better. I adore being married to this woman.
We were in the grocery store the other day restocking the fridge. Not for the first time, I mentioned that I’d love to have something, and Cheryl said, “Well, get it. No one is holding you back.” Later as we make our way down the aisles, she appears with this bag of dried cranberries and pecans, one of my favorite snacks. I didn’t ask her to get it, she just remembered and appeared with something I love.
Today, as I’m working from home, enjoying my cranberries and pecans, I began to reflect on how happy I am to be married to this wonderful woman. I remembered that with my ex-wife this would have been a waste of our finances and an indulgence I was unworthy of having. It occurred to me the lessons that my ex-wife and my new wife have taught me.
My ex-wife squandered our finances and our relationship and taught me that I could not have what I wanted, I wasn’t worthy of anything special, that I would only have what she deemed worthy, what she gave me, and that she could take it away anytime she wanted, so I’d better be fucking thankful.
My wife Cheryl has been smart, logical and even strategic with her finances. She sees a fantastic future as a pending reality that I would have always considered pure fantasy. She’s taught me that I can have what I want, that I am worthy, and I can accomplish all the things I set my mind to do. My only price is to be smart, logical, and even strategic in my decision-making, to see the whole picture, and think of my decision’s impact on her feelings and the family’s well-being. This relationship, this marriage, this family, is mine to make or break, so treat it with all of the love, respect, and tenderheartedness that it is due.
I am not the man that I was 10 years ago or 5 years ago or even last year. Every day we continue to grow, some more than others, but I know that I will always continue to grow with Cheryl by my side. Grow into someone that my father would be proud of, that she is proud of, that I am proud to be. Whenever I think of Cheryl, I always think of this quote from one of my favorite movies, “As Good As It Gets.”
Melvin Udall: Okay. Here I go. Clearly a mistake. I've got this what? Ailment. My doctor, a shrink that I used to go to all the time, he says that in 50 or 60 percent of the cases, a pill really helps. I hate pills. Very dangerous thing, pills. "Hate", I'm using the word "hate" here about pills. "Hate". My compliment is that night when you came over and told me that you would never . . .
Carol Connelly: Um.
Melvin Udall: Um, all right, well, you were there. You know. You know what you said. Well, my compliment to you is the next morning, I started taking the pills.
Carol Connelly: I don't quite get how that's a compliment for me.
Melvin Udall: You make me want to be a better man.
Carol Connelly: That's maybe the best compliment of my life.
Melvin Udall: Well, maybe I overshot a little because I was aiming at just enough to keep you from walking out.
baratheonpilled
andulkaphoto
dededos