I used to lament that my mother didn’t include me in meal prep, No matter, I married a traveling salesman, so nightly meal prep wasn’t necessary in our realm. Besides, cooking for one is not fun. Lean Cuisine and other frozen meal makers sufficed for me. A favorite: Stouffer’s lasagna.
But, there’s a more pithy lack: “Nobody ever told me I’d hold another person’s sense of self in my hands, that I’d have the power to both build and destroy the life I now shared.” Ah, the marriage wisdom of that phrase..
No worries, my spouse and I reciprocally nurture each other’s hearts, minds, and spirits. As they say, “we make beautiful music together.” Our likes and dislikes harmonize well.
Honestly, I can’t remember life without him…
We have the muscle memory for how to share space that evolves from living together. we navigate our smallish kitchen when we make meals together. Neither steals the covers when asleep. My hand fits inside his as we walk companionably in our neighborhood and elsewhere, Each one’s cadence in sync in spite of his height being six inches taller than mine. Not exactly “joined at the hip” as the popular cliche states… we are not Siamese (wink-wink).
Each of us gives more than we take.
Here’s the poem by Kahlil Gibran that was read at our wedding in my parents’ living room. On Marriage –
You were born together, and together you shall be forevermore.
You shall be together when the white wings of death scatter your days.
Ay, you shall be together even in the silent memory of God.
But let there be spaces in your togetherness,
And let the winds of the heavens dance between you.
Love one another, but make not a bond of love:
Let it rather be a moving sea between the shores of your souls.
Fill each other’s cup but drink not from one cup.
Give one another of your bread but eat not from the same loaf.
Sing and dance together and be joyous, but let each one of your be alone,
Even as the strings of the lute are alone though they quiver with the same music.
Give your hearts, but not into each other’s keeping.
For only the hand of Life can contain your hearts.
And stand together yet not too near together:
For the pillars of the temple stand apart,
And the oak tree and the cypress grow not in each other’s shadow.
Love and togetherness, share dreams and shared sorrows, hope and faith. The journey is rich and comforting when shared with a trusted companion who brings joy and laughter year after year. ❤️
Jan and Bob! Happy forever! Happy Christmas, friends!