What have you done?

I've been seeing a lot of billboard ads that say "What have you done for your marriage today?" I wondered about those signs. I found out that they are sponsored by the Catholic diocese.

Every time I see those ads, they make me think. What have I done for my marriage today? And today I can answer that I had many laughs last night in bed while we remembered the neighbors that lived around us when we had our first two homes. As my wife said, "If they are any indication of American society, we're in deep trouble."

We laughed about one instance where it was a Sunday morning, quiet for suburbia. We decided to get up early to work in the flower garden. The peace was broken by a woman yelling, "If I catch you, you bastard, I'm going to hit you with this brick". So much for the quiet Sunday. Then there was the neighbor who got up at 3 AM to deliver newspapers in addition to his regular job so his wife could go buy more Ethan Allen furniture. And the lady on the other side of us who was on a kick of eating cabbage, broccoli, and turnip soup (nothing else) and said that it caused her to "fluff" frequently. That sent both of us into peals of laughter last night.

So this morning, we were still chuckling about our reminiscences. Now we don't have close neighbors. The squirrels, deer, and foxes aren't nearly as humorous as those former neighbors.
But we still find things to smile about. And after a long hug and a kiss, I was out the door heading to work. I think that laughter, hugs, and all those little acts we do to show our affection for each other, help our relationship a lot more than big gifts.

My grandmother told me to never go to bed angry and to say "I love you" before bed time. Good advice I think.

I'm thankful to have someone in my life who has put up with me over the years. And if you wonder what you've done for your marriage today, just do something. It's not too late to give a hug, or share a laugh or say "I love you."