The Ties that Bind

I've been with Big Daddy a long time. We're bonded in good and bad ways. Like most couples, we've balanced the line between love and hate. The best gift of hanging in there is you get the knowledge and realization that you never actually hated the other person -- just some words, choices or actions. I'm a little embarrassed that it took me so long to figure this out.

(Tomorrow, I will lose all reason and write a blog post about how crummy husbands can be. Let me have this moment.)

Like most of us, a ring was slipped on my finger when I wed. Mine is simple and beautiful. Inside, the inscription says, "Forever." The only time I take it off is for routine cleanings or to have the settings checked. I'm tied. I'm blissfully tethered.

Years ago, I wanted a toe ring. We were on vacation in the Caribbean and the husband was patient enough to walk from store to store in search of my perfect ring. I refused to get one that wasn't a perfect circle; I didn't want the pinch-it-together kind. We didn't find one.

Several weeks later, I received a Valentine's Day gift of a simple gold ring that could be sized to my toe. My mother tells me that no one wears a toe ring any more but I do and it has special meaning to me.

For Christmas, I received a necklace with interlocking circles and the story of how it represented us.

Don't get jealous. He can be mean and obnoxious. We've had problems and I'm sure there are more to come. I am annoying. He can be a **##!! But he's my **##!!

Today we were flying back from Hangdog's funeral and the family festivities. The husband was listening to his iPod and I was making some notes. Then he took one ear plug out of his ear and put it in mine. The cord connected both of us and we were listening to the same song.

Tied and tethered and holding hands.

My Little Corner

I will start this story by admitting that I am very spoiled. I like it that way.

There's a retail center very near my home. A small grocery, a dry cleaners, a meat market, a drug store, jewelry stores, a bank, a deli, a gas station. This is not a mall. It is truly an old-fashioned, neighborhood hub. I have some reason to frequent at least one of these establishments every day.

It's a little like Cheers,-- "Where everybody knows your name."

Last week, I dropped off a watch in the jewelry store. This is not a Rolex. It's a department store, medium-priced basic watch. I didn't feel like standing in line so I wrote my phone numbers on a napkin (from my handbag) and handed it to someone. They called 30 minutes later but I was headed out of town so I just picked it up today. No charge! I cannot believe how many times they have done that for me and the oldies. If I ever make any real money, I must go in there and buy some jewelry.

The husband bought me a beautiful platter for our anniversary a few years ago. The first time I destroyed it, the silver was dented. So, they sent it off to Italy to be repaired. The other day, I knocked it over and cracked the porcelain. I dropped it off today. Yep, they're sending it off to Italy. I'll get a new one -- no charge.

I popped in the meat market and left a list of things I'd like to pick up tomorrow. They'll have it all packaged and call me when it's ready to go.

The liquor store and the dry cleaners do not offer delivery service but they've both delivered to my home on more than one occasion.

I had to pick up a prescription for the husband and line was long, long, long. The pharmacist motioned to me and opened a new register.

I ran in the deli and told the owner I need a couple of quiches for later this week. She'll call me. She offered to deliver them but how spoiled can I be? I'll pick them up.

After all, I'm over in my little corner every day.