A New Beginning

For my entire adult life, the thing about airports has been that they can be incredibly happy places AND incredibly sad places depending on which end of the trip you’re on.  Whenever Marci or I would arrive in each other’s state, the trip to the airport was one we’d countdown the minutes for.  Whenever we left, it was a trip we’d try our damndest not to think about.

The situation was the same as I left Sacramento for the last time.  Except this time was a little different.  On one side, I had just left two people in an emotional wreck.  On the other, there was someone waiting for me that would be happier than words could describe.  And there was me…in the middle…feeling both emotions at the same time.  Wishing I could make everyone happy.

As I got closer to Wichita though, the feeling of being torn subsided.  It was replaced by excitement…a sense of wonder.  I wondered what my life would be like now.  Would I adjust to Midwest living easily?  Would my job go ok?  How would Marci and I handle FINALLY living together?  How well could I really cope with not having the security blanket of my friends around anymore?  More than that, what kind of person would I become?  How would I be changed two months, six months or a year from now.

My mind raced, but when I landed in Wichita and saw Marci waiting for me in the concourse, all I could think was that I was finally where I wanted to be.  As we embraced, I only thought of what we’d been through together to get here.  Being here was going to be a big change, but it was one my heart was 100 percent ready for.

* * * * *

It’s been two months since I’ve moved now, and I have to say things are going pretty well.  I’ve FINALLY had to be a grown up, which I’m not happy about, but I’m handling it.  I bought a car and Marci and I are moving into a bigger apartment at the end of July.  The job isn’t great, but it isn’t horrible either….and with the Kansas economy the way it is, you’re lucky if you HAVE a job, let alone one this secure.  I’ll write about it another time.

The hardest part of the transition has been the weather.  I’m not used to such extremes, being from lovely Sacramento.  Other than that, we are doing fine.  I find it interesting that everyone told me that living with Marci would make the relationship different.  They said I had no idea what I was in for until we ACTUALLY lived together. 

I can say with all sincerity that they were wrong and I was right.

The most difficult part of living together has been figuring out which of the “little things” she is particular about and which of them she ignores.  For instance, she insists that the cap be put back on the toothpaste, but doesn’t mind how it’s squeezed.  She insists that the bed be made on a regular basis, but doesn’t care about the floor around it as much.

For me, these are things I find out when I do something wrong and she follows behind me to correct it.  It’s not a big deal, and in fact she is learning (slowly) to be more flexible.

As for all the warnings that we’d get sick of each other and that we’d learn a bunch of things we never knew and don’t like–it’s garbage.  The thing that makes Marci and I work so well is that we not only love each other, but we LIKE each other too.  We enjoy being together and we actually have a lot of fun with each other.  Besides, when you’ve talked to someone on the phone every night for nearly six years, and you’ve had some of the conversations we’ve had, there’s not a lot you don’t know about a person.

Anyway, that’s the story, ladies and gents.  I’m sure there’s stuff I left out and as always, I am at the beck and call of the readers…so if you want to know about something I didn’t cover, or simply want me to elaborate, drop a note and I’ll see what I can do.

Have a great weekend!