I met him at a club where we used to dance. We'd both gone for several years but had never really run into each other before that night in June. I had been watching him dance for a while when I decided to approach him at the bar (with what could be one of the corniest things that ever left my mouth: "I was watching the dance floor and you were absolutely the most interesting thing on it.") <gag> that was painful to write
Soooo, anyway, we talked the rest of that night and I realized by the end of the night that I didn't really like him very much. It wasn't anything specific, just didn't get any kind of spark or anything. Of course, after a night full of cheap gin and tonics and 2 am small talk, I'm not sure what I had expected.
About six or seven months later we started "officially" dating. That was 14 years ago. Marriage, three (unexpected) kids, a dog, a few states later (and not necessarily in that order) and here we are--wedded, parenting bliss. Or something like that.
For being a man who never thought he would even have kids, The Sarge is a pretty great dad, and I think we're a good team. He's the strong arms, straight backbone and discipline, and I'm mostly the squishy parts (in more ways than one). His military background and my laziness sometimes make for interesting, um, discussions, but I prefer to think of it as one of the many ways we compliment each other.
He is a history buff and can (for example) tour the battlegrounds at Gettysburg and give Moo and Slim a full run down of every battle, which commanders fought which and what direction they were marching across the fields. I am of more use helping them with their math homework. (I am actually excited that Moo will have some Algebra next year. Bring it on!) He is the one to make them sit and do their homework everyday as soon as they walk in the door. I take them to auditions for plays. He likes to plan for any and every possible eventuality. I sometimes forget daily repeated tasks (and have been known to run out of work screaming expletives, realizing that I forgot to leave on time to pick up the kids at school.) Like I said, we compliment each other.
One thing I never really tell him is that I appreciate our differences. I think it is virtually impossible to realize such a thing in the middle of any "discussion" over those differences; and like most people, I have a hard time saying I am wrong about a good many things, but sometimes I am. Discipline is necessary, history is educational, planning is smart.
Happy Father's Day to The Sarge. Today, you can be right. Tomorrow.....well, that's a new day.....
I found you on Blogaholic. You were linked up just before me. I love this story! How awesome that you had an unexpected love story (with kid surprises). Hope to get to know you better...feel free to follow back!
ReplyDeleteThank you! and I'll be sure to check you out!
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