He Truly Is My Best Friend

I was thinking about this yesterday as we were riding in the back of Clay's truck, finding stores that sold boats and other outdoor and recreational equipment, and this guy reaches across the seat to take my hand.

He really is my best friend.  And I really do love him with all my heart.

On August 7 we will celebrate 41 years of marriage plus there was a year before that when we dated briefly and became engaged.  In all of that time he has stood by my side through everything that life has thrown at us.

Remodeling the farmhouse we have lived in for 41 years. New siding.  New roof.  New sunroom. Paint everywhere inside.  New ceiling in the kitchen/dining room.  New bathroom.  New cooktop.  New carpets several times.  New furniture.

Adding a sidewalk and patio to the back of the house, lugging stones, setting up the hottub.

Landscaping times.  Transplanting flowers and shrubs.  Trimming bushes.  Taking down fences.  Painting outbuildings.

Three pregnancies.  The first one was devastating and ended in a miscarriage, but if we had had that baby, we might not have had Megan or Hilary.  They are both so special that I can't imagine life without either of them.

Job changes.  For him - real estate.  Insurance adjusting.  Delivering mail.  Coaching basketball.  Farming.  For me - West Central.  Purdue.  Ivy Tech. Finally retirement.

Raising two daughters and sending them off, first to college, then to new homes of their own to build their own families. Walking them down the aisle to say their marriage vows and promise to love their husbands as much as their mother loves their dad.

Being the favorite Papaw - the best one ever.  He has captured the hearts of Landon, Tessa, Cooper, and Owen, and I am sure that Lynnlee will have him wrapped around her little finger also.  He is always willing to babysit anytime, anywhere.  He will be at every event he can, just like he was for their mommas.

Death of parents - this is where the tough parts come in.  Especially now.  Even though the house at his folks still needs a lot of attention, he has never once hesitated to help me with cleaning out the house in Wooster.  He goes through areas that are tough for me to handle.  He has hauled trash to the dumpster or to the garage. He has lugged boxes of books up the stairs and to the bookstore.  He has loaded 100+ bags of clothes into the Escape to take to Goodwill. He has picked up dozens of boxes at Buehlers.  He has worked with Blaine and Matt to clean out the storage barn and the attic and the garage.  But he never complains and he never hesitates or argues when we load the car to make yet another trip to Wooster.

And I cry.  And I yell.  And I get mad at Mom for all of the clutter. It didn't have to be that way.  I am frustrated because this will be the fifth week that we have been in Wooster since the funeral in late May.  I am tired of cleaning and sorting and deciding what to keep and what to throw away and what to keep for the auction and what to donate.  Summer is slipping by me so quickly and I haven't even enjoyed much of it or my flowers or my sunroom or my hottub or going to a movie.  All I have done is pack, drive five hours, work for 6-7 days, drive back, unpack and wash clothes, catch up for a couple of days at home, then do it all again.

But Gary is there with me.  He is ready with a hug. He will squeeze my hand.  He will pat my shoulder.  He will insist that we go for ice cream at Hartlzers (what a hardship THAT is!).  He will make me stop cleaning out a closet to rest.  He will bring me a drink of iced tea.  He is there.  With me.  All the time.  And that makes all the difference.

Yes, he is truly my best friend.  My partner in life.  My husband. And I love him with all my heart.