It's officially the end of the Holidays as everyone who has taken lots of year-end vacation is now back in the office. It also means that we all relive our Christmases and what we got.
A few people have asked me what Doug got me (one pointed out that it obviously wasn't an engagement ring - I replied "Thank God"). I have tried to explain that he has generously agreed to cover room, transportation, etc for the theatre competition in KY in March - which is greater than just about any other gift I can think of because of the amount of pressure it takes out of me. Seriously - it means so much to me for him to take that bullet, but I didn't realize how much more of a gift it is until today.
After I had explained Doug's gift, one of my co-workers off-handedly said, "so, now you have to stay together that long." I was kinda flabbergasted at first and didn't know what to say. I couldn't even make a joke. It's not really occurred to me that there might be a time that we wouldn't be together or the possibility that we might break up. I mean, I guess in reality that is an option that's always floating around, but it seems so far removed from what's happening with us.
I then realized that apparently it's nowhere on his periphery, either. When he offered to pay for the trip - more than 3 months before the event, he didn't hesitate. He didn't put caveats on it "as long as we're still together." There was just a mutual natural expectation that we'll still be rolling along, happy as ever at that time. And I don't really have a reason to expect we won't be.
There's is definitely a sense of peace in realizing that.
