Last Thurs., Guard & I took the kids, piled in the car and drove 15 hours to St. Louis to attend the Sun. Rams game. (Guard huge Ram fan, always has been). The Rams board that he frequents had set this game as "Herdfest" with about 75 posters attending a picnic...<P>Pretty crazy stuff. A lot of really pale computer guys
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. I, of course, am Mrs. Guard. I've read on that board, and it is amazing how some people look exactly as you'd expect & others...<P>We also tailgated before the game, and when we were leaving after the game, one of the guys came up and hugged us and said, "Man you two are so beautiful together, thanks for coming."<P>It was a GREAT weekend & so nice to just be a couple and realize that our family dynamics are getting to be as normal as any family with 12 & 15 year old girls.<P>Although, there was one moment, when someone said, "you've been married 17 years, how did you do it." Guard & I shared a look. I think I said something like "there are good years, there are bad years, you just don't both give up at the same time."<P>The other crazy thing was Guard had a conference to go to in San Diego this week, so he flew out of Kansas City and just me & the 15 year old were the drivers for home.<P>And for the first time in a long time, years maybe? I cried at the airport because I would miss my husband. And when we got home, there was a message from Guard saying how much he already missed us.<P>I almost can't believe how much our relationship has healed since he has moved home permanantly in Aug, yes he's been home since May, but those first months were a lot of concentration as we worked to discard the coping methods & bad habits we had developed over 2 years of being estranged and/or separated. This weekend was so easy, no strain or triggers or unnatural silences. And, if you can get along after 15 hours riding in a car, plus 2 more days of togetherness...well, the sky's the limit!<P>I think I have also learned to enjoy the good times, just as they are, not letting the past intrude, or worry about the future.<P>------------------<BR>Lor<BR>"A gentle answer turns away wrath, but a harsh word stirs up anger."<BR>(Proverbs 15:1).