Ode to the Man

So after I posted about the missing child, Steve asked me if he should stop going to church now that people in the ward know what happened.

I asked permission, I really did. Both for telling people in real life (I didn't ask before texting my bff but that doesn't count) and for the post. I even read it to him before I clicked "publish."

But now I think he feels bad about it. And why shouldn't he?

However I need to clarify something here. For what it is worth, I am the most happily married person I know. Sure there are a few of you out there who claim marital bliss and I believe you but I think no one really knows what a miserable person I would be without Steve. Here are some things he provides for me that no other husband could ever give me:

-Ongoing comic relief. He is seriously one of the funniest people you will never know. He is shy so it doesn't come out in public too much but he is witttttty. Also, his absent-minded professorness is just funny to me and he never, ever minds when I make fun of him. I hope he knows that I love that about him and appreciate that he appreciates my humor. Sometimes I worry people think I don't know I am making fun of him but I really do.

--Total support of any endeavor I wish to pursue. Once a woman said I was amazing because I do so much and then she stopped short and said "but your husband lets you." I scoffed her internally (externally too in the retelling) but realized that in spite of her anti-feminism she was onto something. What kind of man says "honey go ahead and go to choir and I will stay with the kids" and then really, really doesn't mind. He also supports my cockamamie schemes like hand-grinding the meat for my homemade tortellini (completely unnecessary) for my final in my history of Italy course. And putting orange yarn on hats for some dance thing that in the end my kids are not even going to do. I once told him I was going to quit as the secretary for the governing council at my kids school and came home the president on accident. He didn't blink an eye and just worried about how I was going to accomplish it.

--Intellectual conversation. You can NOT underestimate the value of this to me. He not only teaches me something every day but he actually listens to all my bullcrap about education reform and incorporates my work lingo into his vocabulary. He even acts interested when he is listening to me.

--Dishes. Laundry. Flowers when I get back in town 90% of the time (except when friends are coming from out of town because he likes to put on a show that he doesn't do anything for me).

--The best chocolate cookies on the planet. If you doubt this, you have never eaten his cookies.

--Unlimited hugs. Seriously there is no limit. Ever.

--An ongoing smirk on his face that seems as if he is making fun of other people. Since he would never actually make fun of other people, I get to pretend like he is and internally laugh while he is probably reviewing in his head some old Simpson's episode.

--In the middle of an economic crisis and a future that did not portend well I bought an iphone. In spite of his cheapness, he didn't say anything, just seems happy that I enjoy it. Cuz that is the kind of guy he is.

--Oh and keeps us from total financial ruin. That one is a very true and serious reality that I could never, ever thank him enough for giving to me. I may be the one who works but he is the one who makes our family and finances work out.

Without him=me, broke, unfulfilled, probably childless, and utterly lacking in good stories.