today's marital advice

woke up to an empty house again and there's another showing today, so i started cleaning out the fridge while the tea water boiled. that started me off appreciating eric (who usually does these things) and thinking about marital advice. probably helped that there are two family anniversaries this week: my parents' (53rd!) and the dlls'.

now, i have an unfortunate marital history -- let's just leave it at that and let me claim some basis for knowing that of which i speak when i say that eric is a great partner.

early on, i told him that, unfair as it was, he was going to have to make tea for me every morning because that's what starts me off feeling loved. and he does! when he's around he fights me for the right to make one pot for the morning and a thermos-full for later. and now, thousands of pots of tea later, that tank is full -- i feel loved even when i have to make my own.

so my advice is about little things, even though it's true that things like common values are essential.

anyway, here's my advice:

1. generosity: find someone who will make you tea every day (or whatever little daily thing is yours to need)
1a. strength: and is also willing to fight you.

2. responsibility: find someone who will voluntarily throw out the gross stuff in the fridge. if he'll do things like this, he'll step up in other ways.

3. delight: find someone who grins when he says he loves you.

the little things are the big things, as always.

happy anniversary to mom & dad and david & deanna, and a big thank you to marni & lee for introducing me to their friend eric.