Abigail, this reads like a longitudinal study of affection: the green flags are still there, yet parenting and time have changed the form they take. The sweet drunk becomes the steady fighter, the date-planner becomes the family-ambler, the reader-aloud becomes the writer sharing his own words, and the culture recommender becomes the person still helping shape your shared inner world. That gives the essay its tenderness, since lasting love is measured through recognizable signals surviving changed conditions. Grateful for the humor and care with which you let attraction, domesticity, memory, and devotion remain alive in the same marriage.
What a great reflection of a relationship in progress. It is interesting to see just how much having young children changes some dynamics, enhances others, and helps to force new routines and patterns. In the best relationships, the children are not an impediment to showing love for each other, but instead they reveal new patterns and ways to express the love you have for each other through the relationships you develop with them, individually and collectively.
Like Joe, I am a happy and sappy drunk — I cry a lot more easily when watching a moving scene or reading a moving story — but I’m generally just more relaxed and happy. My wife is very appreciative of that fact. One of the keys for me, is if I am angry before I would begin drinking — to not start drinking, because I won’t be in the right mindset. Once I’m calm, and my mood is under control, then I can have a pint or two to further mellow out.
Hell yes, Douglas. I love love love this. Fully agree. The remarkable thing that you and Joe share is the self-awareness to know what you need, in order to arrive to this happy/sappy state :)
Abigail, this reads like a longitudinal study of affection: the green flags are still there, yet parenting and time have changed the form they take. The sweet drunk becomes the steady fighter, the date-planner becomes the family-ambler, the reader-aloud becomes the writer sharing his own words, and the culture recommender becomes the person still helping shape your shared inner world. That gives the essay its tenderness, since lasting love is measured through recognizable signals surviving changed conditions. Grateful for the humor and care with which you let attraction, domesticity, memory, and devotion remain alive in the same marriage.
🥹❤️🙏
Such a sweet reflection.
Thank you ❤️❤️ I’m glad you thought so.
What a great reflection of a relationship in progress. It is interesting to see just how much having young children changes some dynamics, enhances others, and helps to force new routines and patterns. In the best relationships, the children are not an impediment to showing love for each other, but instead they reveal new patterns and ways to express the love you have for each other through the relationships you develop with them, individually and collectively.
Like Joe, I am a happy and sappy drunk — I cry a lot more easily when watching a moving scene or reading a moving story — but I’m generally just more relaxed and happy. My wife is very appreciative of that fact. One of the keys for me, is if I am angry before I would begin drinking — to not start drinking, because I won’t be in the right mindset. Once I’m calm, and my mood is under control, then I can have a pint or two to further mellow out.
Hell yes, Douglas. I love love love this. Fully agree. The remarkable thing that you and Joe share is the self-awareness to know what you need, in order to arrive to this happy/sappy state :)
Worth hanging onto :)
I sure think so 🥹 Thank you for reading!! :)