Yes. I will take Coach, til...

Early Fall was surprising for me.  Our marriage had an 'emotional growth spurt' for lack of a better term.  Coach traded in his adorable Lil Boy Truck for an Almost Totally Grown-Man Truck. My health had a rough spot, my babies left for big kid schools and my dear father-in-law had a shocking medical scare.

As mentioned, my Coach is easily the happiest person, I know.  The most sun-shiny part of my life.  During The Weekend We Pretend Did Not Happen... my sweet husband was literally stricken by the shock of kinda facing the possible loss of his father.  To witness Coach, struggle with sad emotions was too much to bare.  And I was struck by a thought, which was equally as shocking for me:

One day, Coach and I are going to lose our parents.  One day, we are going to lose a sibling.

One day, we will Lose Each Other.  Because (and this was my Big Revelation) Coach and I are actually, Growing Old Together.

 

"Uhhh... Duh Tru Stories! Obviously, you are going to grow old together!  Wasn't that the WHOLE POINT when you married the man? It took THIS LONG for you to realize THAT??"

Good point.

Except, it did take this long.  Despite my mostly serious exterior.. I am an ignorantly optimistic person.  I rarely, plan into the future.  Of course, I dream of Paris for my 40th birthday.  And yes, I am mentally creating floor plans, for our zombie proof dream house (that's just being smart and proactive).

But actually planning for a long lifetime together, which will inevitably include heart-ache, loss and disappointment, which we will HAVE to face as a couple?? Honestly, never really occurred to me.

But we ARE currently Growing Old Together.

We are really in this for the long haul.

And I could not have found a better partner.  Because (also previously mentioned) Coach is exactly who he has always been.  He will always be, exactly who he is now.  The man he woke up as today, at 31 years old... is the same man, he will be at 71 yrs old.

He will just as happily show-case his little old man legs in basketball shorts.  He will likely lose his hair (sadly sooner than later) but it will hardly make a difference, as he will still sport a Cubs hat, on his wrinkled head.  His laugh lines will deepen but he will still be sent into uncontrollable fits of giggles, from his extremely HiLarious siblings.

 

If we're really growing-up together, here's the deal:
Promise me, for every heart-break, there are twice as many heart-warming moments.
For each loss, there will be so many more gains.
For every cry, there will be a lifetime of countless bedtime chats, while covering our mouth giggles.
And I will promise you the same.
Our babies are growing-up (I hate it). One day, it really will just be us and I am truthfully lucky for that.  Because no one ever, has wanted LESS Coach time. 
Happy Birthday to my Husband.
I look forward, to a lifetime of many more.
You will always be, the very best slightly-belated birthday present, I have ever received.

Grow old along with me
The best is yet to be
When our time has come
We will be as one
God bless our love
God bless our love
Grow old along with me
Two branches of one tree
Face the setting sun
When the day is done
God bless our love
God bless our love
Spending our lives together
Man and wife together
World without end
World without end
Grow old along with me
Whatever fate decrees
We will see it through
For our love is Tru
God bless our love
God bless our love
-John Lennon