Date: 2018-05-22
To: View Entry
Miles today: 0.0

Ironically, I woke this morning at 4:00, the time i will HAVE to wake up tomorrow morning to head to the airport. The reality is that going back to sleep is unlikely so my mind starts to run through the mental checklist of things I need to do today - great and small. I am distracted by all of this but I am still ¢present¢. Knowing myself, I¢ll probably wake up tomorrow with a military mindset and march through the task list to load up and get on the road to the airport, checking them off mentally or actually on a paper list. I might not be as much fun to be around until that is accomplished, I¢ll admit. My mind will start to be in New Jersey, not ¢present¢.  At 5:00 Marlene stirs and I hear her moving around in the bedroom to get ready to head out to the Y. I hear her slip out and the car leave the driveway. I am retired and she is working probably until the end of the year. Over our life together I have enjoyed being ¢domesticated¢ and doing little things around the house. I like to surprise her. When she is in the shower I make the bed and like to see a little smile or hear the sigh of relief when she comes out and notices. There are lots of those tiny little things that have become a normal part of the routine. The last spoon and plate from last evening are in the dishwasher. I have stocked the pantry with a box of cheerios, and two rolls of paper towels from downstairs so she doesn¢t have to fetch them. The wastebasket and recycle basket are emptied and new bags are in - she hates to find them packed full when she goes to toss something and she¢s in a hurry to leave. I love having them empty for her. Early in our marriage as we were settling into routines and figuring out how to live together I discovered that we are different from each other - in several ways. One of those is that I¢m more like ¢a place for everything and everything it it¢s place¢. She was more ¢relaxed¢. That¢s the kind of thing that can cause a little friction as you work it out. Soon I noticed a book on the coffee table titled something like ¢Cleanies and Messies¢. We were surrounded by many great married couples and lots of resources to help young couples adjust to marriage, and I¢m sure some older and wiser woman suggested it to her. It talked about the practical aspects of setting up a household and also how to grow together as a couple rather than apart. She worked on becoming more of a ¢Cleanie¢, and I learned that I could help.  She came home from her morning workout, showered and got ready. I was sitting at the kitchen table on the computer, having just found out that my box of gear and supplies is ¢Out for Delivery¢ by FEDEX up in New Jersey. She came up behind me, slipped her arms around me and kissed me on the neck. She thanked me for stocking the bathrooms with toilet paper and boxes of tissues. I had packed in as many of each as I could. Not enough for three months though, so she will think about me again when she runs out and has to go downstairs to get them.  It is hard for her when I¢m gone like this. Cheerios and tissues and spare light bulbs aside, there is a lot to do to stay behind and live life while I¢m gone. Added to that Marlene is my base camp and trail boss. She helps with everything from sending mail drops for food and supplies to finding a hostel or motel if I need to get off the trail for a night. Every time there is a water heater or A/C repair or some other thing to handle, and she has to handle it all. Thankfully we have many friends who take care of her a little like a ¢damsel in distress¢. She¢s not helpless, but it¢s great to have friends to call on who know the situation and are willing to help. Tomorrow the separation begins again, but we will have a ¢wireless¢ connection across the miles that couples know about. There is some comfort in that.  PS. Thinking about it I remember how much it meant to me last year when friends would sign the guestbook here on the journal to let me know they are following along. It helps so much to have a little contact along the way. I appreciate it.