The other morning while in Los Angeles, some guys showed up around 7:00 am to start jack-hammering at the bottom of our hill, tearing up the existing staircase and wall to put a carport in. Our bedroom faces the street, so the noise was starting to chip its way into my consciousness through my earplugs and the fan on at high speed. However, before I was fully pulled from my dream of driving a golf cart through the streets of Prague, Ted raced all the way up the 76 steps from the street to the house to close the windows so that I could continue sleeping.
I've said it before, and I'll say it again: that man is my hero.
Then today I went to use the unisex restroom at our Trader Joe's and noticed that the toilet seat was up. As most other women, I'm not a big fan of having to put these down, especially in a public restroom. Through my mild annoyance, it occurred to me that I'm spoiled by how Ted remembers to put the seat down probably 90% of the time. He's made the point that it's the gentlemanly thing to do.
It got me thinking about how in any marriage or friendship, it's the little things that seem to serve as the glue to keep things together. It's the little ways we prefer each other, the small things we do to make the other happy.
So I want to put the question out there: What are some of these little things for you all?
11 comments:
Carrie always remembers to leave the toilet seat up for me. She knows that when I have to go, I have to go, and that I don't have time to lift the seat.
I like when I'm doing something on the computer and Carrie peeks her head in and says "mewp" or something, to give me a little blinky.
I have always thought that one of the best things about being married is the fact that there are little things that only the two of you know about. We find ourselves laughing over things that no one on the outside could ever understand. I love that! Amy
My grandparents had one of the best marriages I've seen. Granny used to give Grandaddy pedicures. She'd soak his feet in the foot spa and go to work on all those lovely bunions, corns, and nails. They'd do this while sitting on the couch watching a movie. I couldn't be in the same room with them while this was going on.
Grandaddy, on the other hand, instead of saying, "You've got the wrong number" when a stranger called, would hand the phone to Granny and say, "Beeg, it's for you." Every time.
We're early risers. When I wake up first, I set out Drew's newspapers for him, and I pour him his coffee and orange juice the moment I hear him stirring. When Drew gets up first, he hands me his coffee mug as I enter the room, without so much as looking up from his newspaper, and says "topper, please" in a silly voice. I kiss the top of his head, sigh, refresh his coffee and say, "that's not a very nice way to greet me." Then he asks me, "how did you sleep?" This is our ritual. It works for us. In fairness, he freshly grinds the coffee every single night and sets the timer for the morning. Oh, and he always puts the toilet seat down. Unless we're in a hotel. Then all bets are off. Something about him being on vacation too...
Lloyd puts the seat down too. He also willngly goes places that are not his "thing" just because he knows I like them -- "museums, bookstores, chick flicks." He also puts up with a house full of animals (2 dogs and 1 cat) when he did not grow up with any and is allergic to them.
My friend Priscilla will just show up with a card or a gift like a little potted rose just because she was thinking of me.
I am blessed.
Pattie
One of the nicest things two friends did for me was the night of the U2 concert that I was pouting about having to miss. We drove to Florida to sleep on the beach, just because I got it in my head that that was the only consolation for missing this concert, big baby that I am. We sat around on the beach until it started to rain, and then we packed in like sardines in the back of my friend's Blazer until the sun came up.
Allen rubs my back every night until one of us falls asleep. He is also a seat putter downer. But with three vocal females in the house...
Your memory of your grandparents reminded me of what Lloyd does when telemarketers call the house, he hands me the phone and says "it's for you" then times me to see how long it takes me to get off the phone with them.
--funny or cruel I can't quite decide.
Pattie
That's pretty funny with a fair amount of annoying, P! With Grandaddy, at least he knew all Granny had to say was that it was the wrong number. Poor you getting stuck with a telemarketer :)
My hubby, the sweet thing he is, pulls out my coffee cup, the lid, a spoon, and my hot chocolate. Every morning. He sits it next to the coffee pot to wait for me to get up for work-since he leave an hour before. (I'd rather add a spoonfull of hot chocolate than milk or creamer and sweetner! It's an awesome homemade Mocha!)
He also puts the seat down on the toilet. EXCEPT when he wants a laugh. Usually that's right before bedtime, when he knows I'll slip in with the lights off. :( I can't count the number of times I've fallen in! I've learned to flip on the light to check, darn him! :)
After 15 years, he has done so many things that just warm my heart! I tell him often about how thankful I am for his little touches. This guy is my one true love and I thank God for him!
I LOVE to read your blog, by the way. I love to pop over almost daily to see what mischief Ted is into and to see what funny things you have to tell me. If you're ever going to be in Iowa, be sure to post! I'd love to share our home with you guys.
:D Stephanie
Stephanie, if my husband ever purposely left the seat down *for a laugh*, he'd never hear the end of it, ever. For real. (I'm not a big fan of pranks).
Thanks for the kuddos, glad you enjoy the blog. I've felt weird sometimes by how little it has to do with our adoption, but when we're just waiting, I have to find other things to write about :) And thanks, I'll let you know if we're ever in Iowa! Thanks!
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