I used to think that, if we just got ourselves married and shacked-up, I’d actually get my life back — you know, up during the day, getting work done, noodling in the kitchen, while Mr. Works-at-Night works at night. I thought the most loving thing I could do was wait. But “caring is creepy,” and waiting is stupid. Now I’m discovering that keeping normal, daylight hours — and doing my old normal, daylight things — is a great way to just freaking get over it. But there is a great sense of loss just in reconfiguring my life, yes.

Anyway, Dan: I’d love to read this, even though — no, no — I was not in a loving, mature relationship (or even a remotely Catholic one), and the book does not really apply to my circumstances. But my parents had an “exceptional” marriage, despite some of the HUGEST personality flaws ever, and watching my mother grieve just makes me marvel at what she had.

It’s a relief to me that your and husband’s hobbies don’t overlap. The same psychologist with the “how to hang onto your love” book was like “Opposites don’t attract!” and talked about the importance of common interests, and I was just like, you are so full of shit. I think it’s exciting to learn about something I don’t already know about, duh. And the whole thing about submission/support/believing in a dream actually killing excitement? I don’t know, man.

OK, I’ll remember. Maybe I’ll warn you before I suddenly jump in the car one weekend. I’ve missed that I used to get to do that!

Thanks for everything, ma’am.

Always remember that we have an extra room. Warehouse is under construction, so soon that room will even be empty!! I timed it on my way home from the beach last week. Our house is 1 hour and 15 minutes from the Bulverde exit on 281. :)