Two years ago today
Two years ago today Mike and I put on fancy clothes and stood up in front of many people that we love and made a whole bunch of very serious promises about, essentially, loving one another. It was a wonderful, glorious, happy-filled, day that still makes me smile when I think of it. To be honest though, it wasn’t all bubbles and champagne that day. I threw my back out the morning of the wedding, forgot to put together a reception run-sheet for our long-suffering MC’s, Emma and Asha, until four hours before the ceremony, and felt more serious and stressed out than giddy and love-struck...
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On his first trip to Laos for his job interview in January, Mike was warned that should we move to Laos he would be encouraged by many locals (in fact, expected) to take a Laotian wife. Mike sent Lisa one post-card during that trip. It was of an elderly Laos woman smoking a cigar. All that was written on the back was: “Check out your competition for wife number two.” Since getting to Laos in April Mike has indeed been encouraged to take a Laotian wife. Mike: “The district governor I met with today said you were beautiful when I showed him our wedding photos. Then, later in the meeting,...
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It’s 9:45pm. Mike and Lisa have just finished watching West Wing together on the couch. It’s dark. It’s late. It’s romantic. Lisa gives Mike a fond squeeze. Mike suddenly wiggles free and jumps up. Mike: “Dishwasher’s finished it’s cycle. Need to unstack it.” Lisa (confused) “Did you just say you need to unstack the dishwasher? Right now?!?” Mike: “Yes, honey, yes. Otherwise the dishes stay all wet and yucky overnight.” (Long pause while Mike unstacks the dishwasher and Lisa plays on facebook) Lisa (towards the kitchen): “I think you’re fantastic.” Mike:...
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Weekday morning. McWolfe household. Mike: “OK, time to go, you’re running late. No more dawdling.” Lisa (not in the mood to go to work yet, Lisa wanders into the bedroom to pick up her scarf): “Anyone would think you have a secret lover arriving at this house at 8:45am sharp.” Mike (handing Lisa her lunch) “Maybe I do. Her name is Madame “Todo List.”” Lisa (meandering towards the front door): “Where are my keys?” Mike: “I have no idea.” Lisa: “Well what good are you, then?” Mike: “No good at all, clearly. Maybe you should look on www.findabetterhusband.com. You...
Read MoreDark Shadows in Marital Mirrors
They say that getting married can place you in front of a mirror to your soul. Naked. And that you won’t always like what you see in there. But until this week – a full year into marriage – I thought that danger was over-rated or that I had an inherently beautiful naked soul. Because while there have been some adjustments and minor frustrations to underpin all the fun of togetherness, I haven’t often looked into that mirror and really cringed at the selfishness I see reflected. My mother would say that this is due to the fact that my life has been disrupted far less than Mike’s as...
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