How's Married Life?

Everyone's favorite question for me right now is: "So, how's married life?" And I appreciate their genuine interest in my life. Really, I do.

And believe me, I want with all my heart to gush and tell them that it's amazing. That it's fairytale-esque. That my husband and I eat dinner together and talk about our days. That while he does the dishes, I hover in the kitchen regaling him with stories from work or class. That we settle onto the couch and I do homework on the laptop while we watch some tv or just talk. And truthfully, I believe, this is what people want to hear.

But that's simply not how it is. When I left for work this morning, I kissed my husband and told him I would see him on Monday. (It's Friday). I spend the majority of my nights alone, while he works forty-five minutes away. We go for days at a time without seeing each other at all-- because I leave for work or internship or school before he gets back home around 7am. And he leaves again for work by 5pm and most of the time I'm not home again yet. Less than two months of marriage so far and it's far from what people imagine.

I don't mean to complain, but I get tired to telling people how wonderful it is because frankly, if I had to sum up marriage in one word, it would be "lonely."

This is the part where you tell me that I shouldn't bend the truth; that I should open up and tell people the reality of what marriage is like for me, at least. And sometimes, when I think they can stomach it, I do. But 99% of the time I get one of three responses:
1. Well, you should just be glad he has a job at all. (And I am. WE are. So very blessed).
2. It will get better. (Yes, I'm sure it will but right now, it is difficult).
3. One day, you'll wish he was working opposite schedules because you'll always be on each other's nerves OR "absence makes the heart grow fonder" (Thanks, but NO).



And so, I simply leave it at: "I love being married." This is truth. I do. It is hard-- harder than I could have ever imagined. But for the few days that we have spent together, it is remarkable. And if our schedules are like this until we retire, I still wouldn't trade it for the world.

Quirkiness

I was thinking the other day about my quirks...the little things that make me, well, me. Here are some of them.

1. If I wake up during the night or early in the morning and am awake for more than 2 minutes, I have to go brush my teeth. Absolutely must.

2. I am obsessed with Law and Order:SVU and want to be Olivia Benson when I grow up.

3. The money in my wallet has to be in descending order, all bills facing up.

4. I don't like to sit with my legs crossed because I feel (and probably look) awkward.

5. I have to sleep with the window open because Central Air and Heat feels suffocating to me.

6. I eat my pizza crust side first.

7. Exanding on #7, when I eat a meal, I eat all of each food before moving to the next. And subconciously, I choose which taste I want in my mouth when I finish my meal.

8. I hate the feel of chiffon. It makes my skin crawl.

9. I am as obsessed with Jodi Picoult (the author) as I am with SVU. The only difference is, I only get my Jodi Picoult "fix" once a year when her new book comes out. I usually finish it within a day of getting it.

10. I grind my teeth when I'm stressed, anxious, nervous or tense (i.e. all the time).

11. I don't like to talk on the telephone. I'd prefer to text, email or chat in person.

12. I am very punctual. I would rather leave and get somewhere thirty minutes early than be two minutes late.

13. I don't sleep with my engagement ring on. I started taking it off before bed at first because I was afraid it would fall off while I was asleep. Now, it's habit/bedtime ritual.

14. I don't like the number 5. I don't know why. I just don't.

15. I cannot stand to use the "Scan" button on radios. It's confusing and overstimulating.