In Sickness and in Health

Within the last month, both my husband and I have had either an injury or a “procedure,” giving us each a chance to play nurse to one another.  Although both of our ailments have been relatively minor, being “disabled” in one way, shape, or form is a reminder that being married truly is a team effort.  When one person on the team gets taken out of the game for whatever reason, the other person becomes an even more valuable player.

A couple of weeks ago, while in Boston visiting our son, I stepped off a curb and right into a pothole.  My foot rolled over and I collapsed into the middle of the street.  My husband, Dick, and our son were as responsive as any EMS team as they helped me to the sidewalk and to an empty chair (How many empty chairs do you find on the streets of Boston?).  Dick kicked into high gear and found a nearby restaurant from which he retreived a bag of ice.  He then dashed to the nearest drug store to buy me an ace bandange.  I couldn’t have been more well attended to!

Two weeks later, Dick had to have gum surgery.  Although the surgery took only an hour, the recovery continues to take many days.  Since the surgery, I have become quite good at making smoothies and attending to the soreness of half of my husband’s face.

Feeling poorly after a surgery, an injury, or an illness is no fun, but with a partner by your side who jumps in the game and works from a spontaneous or well- thought-out  playbook, you and your marriage will not only survive, but thrive!

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6 June 2008
Vacationing Without Your Mate?

I’ve always been a big believer in vacationing with your mate.  An overnight or weekend away once a quarter and a week away once a year does a world of good for your relationship. But how about time away from your mate?

I think taking time to be away from your mate actually enhances your relationship.  Intimacy is wonderful, but being attached at the hip is not so wonderful.  Remember, you are an individual first before you are a couple.  Taking a few days away from one another now and then (at least once a year) infuses new energy into your couplesness.  When you get back from your trip, 3 things happen:

1. You appreciate each other more because of having been apart.
2. You have new information/stories to tell your mate.
3. You have experienced new situations, which most likely has added to you being an even more interesting person than before you left.

So go ahead.  Take that trip alone or with your friend or family member – and watch your relationship grow!

July 30, 2008 | Filed Under Uncategorized 

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