Just as I’m shuffling through pages of writing and discovering I like the original versions better than the revisions because I have shortened sentences, added periods, divided paragraphs up like a pan of brownies, changed POV, added commas, Todd says, “What should we do today?” 

It’s a challenging question, I’m busy at work, and frankly, I never have enough time, although I know, because I was taught to know, that every twenty-four hour day has the perfect amount of time, so I don’t concern myself with this, not too often, except like now, in this moment, when Todd asks, “What should we do today?”

“I’m already at work,” I say, and then add, “I remember how Mom once said, I wish your father would find something to do, he’s just shuffling around here. Heavens, she thought, pick up the broom. The floor needs sweeping. But she didn’t say that, of course, it might have offended him, and yet she said it to me, so that now, I have the same thought, except not about Todd, it’s about me. Todd sweeps.

But the memory is sweet, Todd laughs. He also cleans the house, washes windows and dishes, the clothes, shops for groceries, brings home flowers. He’s a home repairer, plumber and maintenance guy all in one. He’s a life repairer, a wife repairer…? 

I’m the shuffler, except shuffling papers not feet.

“I like my writing better before…” I say. Before I started taking it all so seriously? Too seriously? What does it all add up to? Time passes…

“Honey, did you happen to vacuum my nightstand?”

“No, why would I do that?”

“With the attachment, I mean, you know, because of dust?” I’m not a good duster. You know this. Todd concurs but doesn’t press it. He vacuums, which is good, we eat popcorn, at night, watching movies, or a series like The Durells in Corfu.

“My earrings were on the nightstand. Now they’re not…” I’m perplexed. And forever losing things it seems, words lately, mostly books. I should alphabetize. But by category or author or title? What do you think? By genre…?  

“Oh, never mind!” I’m delighted, touching my left earlobe.“I’ve already put them on.” Or in. They’re pierced. 

Sometimes I wonder how I’d ever get by without him. I don’t take our relationship  for granted, no, I don’t, not for a minute. Well, maybe for a minute. True, I do, but soon enough realize what a mistake that is, because I used to, the cocky and sassy, self-absorbed girl I once was. Did I just say “once”…?

It feels like the best work I can do these days is to love well, as he loves me. Where would I be if he hadn’t married me? 

Our love has grown deepest through the smallest things…waking up together, taking walks, reheating leftovers like recycling one’s prose, eating by candlelight. When I walk into the room and the candle is lit…as much as through the big things. Like finding each other in a blizzard when life hadn’t turned out according to plan. It wasn’t a blizzard, I can hear him say. Well, maybe not, but it was snowing…

Enjoy the weekend!🩶

Photos: Beach treasures, Lake Michigan