Two children turning 18, one going into the US Navy. A parent passing away. Four moves in less than a year. Health scares. New job. Car problems. Graduate School. Terminally ill parent. And a special new baby being born. That is a quick summary of the last 24 months. A lot of stress and pressure to build up until your whole world bursts.
All it took was one week, seven days, to relieve that pressure. We left on May 9th, turned the data off on our phones and disconnected from our entire world. No text messages, no emails, no facebook, no phone calls. Just Kip and I. I expected a long week of bickering and disagreements. I expected that our very varied interests wouldn't compliment each other and we'd spend time looking at each other wonder just what the hell to do next. After 27 years as a couple, and many of those surrounded by lots of other people, I feared that we just wouldn't know what to do with our self-imposed isolation from our world.
Every 5-10 years our relationship goes through another evolution. The last one, we finally allowed ourselves to accept that we, and each other, were no longer that 14 girl and 17 year old boy. We allowed ourselves, and each other, to grow up...and discovered that we actually not only still loved each other but we LIKED each other. This evolution was about the transition into our "middle ages." Our nest will be empty. Our parents are aging. After 20+ years of focused attention on two boys who needed our love, guidance and support...we know have a little less focus there. Where does it go? How do you cope with the next stage in your life? Well, the answer is simple: TOGETHER. We're not joined at the hip by any stretch of the imagination and enjoy many activities that the other does not. But when it comes right down to it, we walk this path side by side. Sometimes I'm in front, sometimes Kip is in front, but when it matters we are hand in hand, side by side.
We disconnected from our world and reconnected with each other that further cements our solid foundation, mutual admiration and respect, and deep rooted, unwavering love. I couldn't have asked for a better lifemate!
