He’s nervous but I’m not because while he hasn’t had many interviews, every single one he’s had has ended with a job offer. It’s between this job and another one, both of which would be a lot better schedule-wise for us.
Poor Brett. This is so so hard on him. He likes things to be predictable and big change just destroys him.
I just kinda want to write about him today because I’m thinking so hard on him. And with our anniversary coming up, I’m thinking about how this is the week I met him 17 years ago and what that was like.
I was coming back from dating a string of incompatible men and I’d make the conscious decision to date outside of my comfort-zone. That meant I was going to give the clean-cut boys a chance and see if there was something to dating guys without aspirations of artistic greatness (i.e., no more starving artists or wannabe rock stars).
There was one boy at the deli — Brad, I think? I don’t know. He was cute and blonde and shy and I asked him out then took him out dancing where he was overwhelmed by my friends. I never heard from him. But before I had time to feel bad about that, I’d met Brett.
If you would have told me 17 years ago that this was the man I was going to marry, I would have thought you were crazy. For one, he was too nice. (Who wants nice in a partner! Not me! I wanted the adventure of caustic, cruel and cavalier!) He was too good looking. (I gravitated to character-actor types, not leading men.) He wasn’t an artist. (Although most all the artists I dated put my art squarely after their own.) And he loved me. (Where was the challenge in that???)
Marrying him was the smartest thing I ever did. I don’t deserve him but he loves me anyway. He makes me feel like I’m the best thing since sliced bread even though he knows the worst of me. He nurtures our children with endless supplies of patience and good humor. He takes care of us at the expense of himself (but won’t admit that he ever puts himself last.) He inspires me with his integrity, kindness and unselfishness. I’m grateful everyday that I get to be his wife; he’s the first best thing that ever happened to me. And I so so so hope that the next job he gets is one that he deserves. I so hope that he gets the chance to have a job that doesn’t grind him down. I don’t know which of the two jobs would be a better fit for him but I hope that he gets the one that is.
I have two kids and a delightfully odd husband, Brett. My children are Noah (born to us in 1997) and Madison (born to her first mom, Pennie, in 2004 and brought to our family through a domestic, open adoption). They are my inspiration and also the reason I don't get more done around here.
I'm a writer and sometimes I get published, which is a nice thing. I write for joy, I write for money and when I'm very lucky, both things happen at the same time. My work appears in national publications including Yoga Journal, Disney's Family.com, Utne, Wondertime, Brain Child and Salon. Currently I am working on a book about my daughter's adoption and seeking representation for the proposal. I also own Open Book Strategies with my husband.
Leslie
March 26th, 2007 at 3:14 pm
*sniff* — what a MAN!
Nancy
March 26th, 2007 at 3:38 pm
Good Luck to Brett! I hope he finds a perfect fit.
DD
March 26th, 2007 at 4:01 pm
It’s too bad they don’t let wives provide referrals.
Good luck, Brett!
AidelMaidel
March 26th, 2007 at 4:31 pm
Girl you and I are so much alike when it comes to men, it’s scary. I want this happy ever after too!
Meagan Francis
March 26th, 2007 at 5:34 pm
good luck to Brett!
karen m
March 26th, 2007 at 5:45 pm
Awww…that was lovely! Good luck, Brett!
shannon
March 27th, 2007 at 1:38 am
So? How’d it go?
(And I’m so glad you wised up to DOING art rather than pursuing artists!)
Lilian
March 27th, 2007 at 2:02 am
Wow, this is such an amazing coincidence — on March 29 it will be exactly 17 years since the day I met my husband. We’ve been together ever since. The only difference is that we’ve been married for only 12 years (we got married in December 94). Please tell us more about how you met him, or give us links to other posts that do
Pleeeease? (I love to hear these kind of stories ;))
I’ll be thinking of Brett and his job opportunities and wishing him and your family the best. Particularly because, as you already know, my husband got a job offer two weeks ago.
Gretchen aka mamagigi
March 27th, 2007 at 3:56 am
What a sweet sentiment and snapshot of your love for each other — seems luck has struck before. I hope there’s good job news coming for Brett soon! (And that he read your post today.)
PinkPoppies
March 27th, 2007 at 11:15 am
Lovely post, but I wonder why women always say they don’t deserve their partners. Don’t we deserve love and care and kindness and support and joy too as much as the men?
You sound like a loving, supportive, committed partner who cares deeply about social issues, behaving ethically and working hard to create a family you can be proud of.
Celebrate what he brings to your life, and celebrate what you bring to his, and most of all, celebrate what you do together. That is what makes it special!
I am beginning to sound like a Hallmark card but just wanted to say I enjoy reading about your experiences and also to say you deserve a pat too for all that you do for your family and sweetie.
Pink
orrielynn
March 27th, 2007 at 4:23 pm
make sure MIL sees this.
Jan
March 27th, 2007 at 7:10 pm
So how did the interview go??? Reading your post (and chuckling because I SO did not want a nice man of my own and got one 18 years ago) made me realize that he’s got more of a gem in a wife than you think.
Poor_Statue
March 27th, 2007 at 11:01 pm
Beautiful post.