Eighteen

Eighteen years in the books. This year August 10 arrives in the midst of a global pandemic which has caused the need for Quarantine at points and a complete rethinking of how we interact socially. I am thankful in these times to have a life partner who knows me well enough to know when I need space to recharge and process (having a pool to sit beside and take care of has become a happy place). I'm also thankful for the time I've had to know the Mrs. well enough to know instinctively when she wants her back rubbed or scalp scratched. Per my note last year about calling BS, I also know when to drop a "Fuck that clown" when need be. The murder of Ahmaud Arbery, Breonna Taylor, and George Floyd in particular have caused a trauma like I never felt before. There were days I woke up fully understanding when those who are depressed say they have to fight just to get out of bed. In those low moments, I count it as a blessing to still have a Franchise Player on my team who can make me laugh, say the thing that will keep me moving in the right direction, and remind me we've got an empire to build.

The silver lining of Pandemic Love has been the challenge to find new ways to spend quality time. Not being able to go to indoor spaces has meant coming up with ways to entertain that don't require a specific venue.  Nothing like quarantine to finally pull the inflatable movie screen out of the box for Friday Movie Nights, or hop in an RV and go see the magnificent beauty of the Grand Canyon (well worth the drive). As we get deeper into these years where we’re making moves that will create a legacy for The Dimpled One and The. Munchkin to build on, there seem to be more things that require our attention. It means more planning goes into making sure we have time for each other. After 18 years I’m still up for the challenge like when I first proposed with a ring sizer.  I look forward to what lies ahead in Chapter 19.