Why we work...

When I got married many questioned my motives. (That was annoying) Even more questioned my sanity. (That was amusing) and still more questioned my choice.

At first, that last one made me pretty mad...until I looked at "us" on paper. At first glance we shouldn't work...I mean REALLY shouldn't work. I'll break it down for you:

Lets go back a few years to the days of old:

In Highschool the hubster partied hard, I rarely left the house. He was smart, and somehow pulled really good grades (while being high as a kite and annoying all of his teachers) I usually had my nose in a book because even though I'm intelligent, I'm one of those that has to push really hard in certain areas (ick...math) He had green hair and was obsessed with Pink Floyd, I was a cheerleader who was obsessed with musical theatre. When he graduated he went straight into the workforce (and his first marriage, parenthood, and all the trimmings) When I graduated I went straight off to college and a degree, struggling to become allgrowedup.

Needless to say we didn't run in the same circles back in the day. (Though as irony would have it, my best friend dated his best friend for years post High School, we didn't meet for YEARS after)

Even now, we are so very different it's hysterical. I currently obsess and worry over niggly details that no one cares about but me, while he has a much more relaxed "take it as it comes" attitude towards life. He's good with money, I'm decidedly NOT. He's covered in tattoos, I've never had the courage to get even one. I LOVE to read, and wish I had more time to do so- he can't stand books, and doesn't understand why ANYONE would read anything they didn't have to. I'm religious and try to attend services (though not nearly as often as I should) he isn't so sure there's much to believe in in that respect, much less enough of a "something" to entice him to spend his Sunday mornings practicing "Catholic aerobics" as he terms it. I think there are certain things you just DO for your family BECAUSE they are your family, he thinks that family or not respect has to be earned and no bloodline should require you to do anything you don't want to.

And yet, we have a really solid marriage, friendship, and all around life together. I admit it- it makes no sense. We are really a case of opposites attract.

But something happened the other day that makes me go "see...people don't get it THAT'S why we work..."

I saw a billboard advertising the Houston showing of the Broadway tour for "Wicked..." and while I'm dying to go, I didn't say anything because I noticed the dates are on his birthday. The ONLY weekend it's playing is of COURSE on his birthday. So we traveled along, and he says "Hey baby, did you see that billboard back there for that show?" (hmmm) "Sure did, why?"

"You wanna go?"

Now- he saw the dates too...and when I explained to him that that is one of his only days off for the next three weeks, not to MENTION his birthday his response was "I've been wanting to take you to a show for a long time...can't think of a better way to spend my birthday than putting a smile on your face and giving you an excuse to wear a pretty dress...I like it when you wear dresses..."

His birthday, doing something I know he really could care less about, all to see me dressed up and smiling?

I gots me a keeper.

Granted, we probably won't make that show (have you SEEN the ticket prices...jimminy CRICKETS!) but the fact that he even offered shows me just how good I've got it...and he did it without my pulling any of the "usual" female tricks of hints and guilt.

Our happiness stems from the fact that each of us makes sacrifices and compromises daily JUST to see the other one smile...and that is why WE work.