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Welcome to blog post #3. This is my husband of nearly 18 years. On August 3rd, 2020 we will be officially 18 years married. This year – according to the Hallmark Anniversary Gifts by Year page – states it’s the appliance anniversary. (Quick! Someone get me a refrigerator! No ice dispenser though, please… Added headache) Eric has been through some absolutely atrocious things with me. I honestly wish I could say that some of them had been fictional. They were not. Although some will say it’s made us stronger. And you’re absolutely right. Grieving the loss of a child, the dealings of a seriously mentally ill and abusive child, poverty, our own mental illnesses, physical issues, etc. It’s been a rough ride.

Eric is, the love of my life. He’s helped me navigate the most sticky aspects of existence. He’s opened my eyes to a new train of thought. Whether it be the concept of reincarnation (which I thought was bunk prior to him. Truthfully, I still don’t understand the concept entirely, but I get the basics)The religion I was brought up in, to my memory does not discuss that at all. We both are intrigued by the after life. Literally, where do we go AFTER we die. We’ve experienced the paranormal together and apart from one another. And it wouldn’t have really all happened without Fred.

So, to be honest, I cheated on Eric a few times. I don’t deserve him. He could have walked away so many times and just told me where to go. He knew I was a very hurt soul, I guess. Or just loved me that much. The last straw was when I was with Fred, Darrian’s biological father (and only that). I started to see just how much I was annoyed by Fred and just how much I longed for Eric. There was an electricity between Eric and I that just was not present with anyone else I had attempted to run away from my life with. So I literally had to gravel to get Eric back. By that point, he had basically said to hell with you. And so I got over to his parents house and I begged for him to give me another chance. I knew I was wrong and I missed him. And in all this time since, I have stayed faithful. I don’t want anyone else.

Eric, just like anyone, comes with their own baggage. He has a myriad of physical ailments including arthritis, migraines (although lesser now since we moved from Green Bay to Kewaunee), chiari malformation, nerve deadness from a surgery he had regarding his ulnar nerve, and back problems. His mental illnesses involve bipolar and paranoid schizophrenia. And regardless of his being unmedicated, he’s doing quite well. Granted, he has his times – but he’s doing great. He’s a recovering alcoholic – and truly has given up on the bottle from everything I’ve witnessed. Despite having alcohol in the house even! He smokes pot from time to time (still illegal in Wisconsin… WTF politicians?) With all those things being said, he is the most considerate man I’ve ever met. He cooks and cleans for me. Does laundry without completely mucking it up. He loves and cares for our pets like a doting pet owner/aka animal daddy. His sense of humor is dynamic, sarcastic as all get out, and he’s intelligent.

He loves Terry Prachett novels and everything involved in that universe. We’ve watched the movies a few more than a few times. And the new series that popped up on Amazon Prime, oh yes… consumed that as well.

At one time, I had been involved in an abusive relationship with a guy I won’t mention his name. He doesn’t matter anyway. I still had PTSD from that. When Eric and I were coming back from Upper Michigan (many moons ago) we stopped through the drive through at Burger King and saw a “man” becoming very abusive to his female partner. I looked at my husband and said… “Eric…” and he said, “Yep!” And he got out of car. Black trench coat, black hat, sun glasses, and long black hair. He had to look intimidating to those people. He got in between the two and told the “man” that he needed to leave the lady alone. That since he was witnessing it, it was now his (Eric’s) problem. The female ran into the restaurant and whatever happened from there is … history. I thought he was the most thoughtful and most heroic individual I had ever met. I honestly could get love struck everytime I told that story. I digress. That is my husband. He makes the world spin on its axis for me. He drives me bat crap crazy sometimes, but he’s my better half and I couldn’t do this without him.

FYI – I had to look at that picture again. It just looked strange. Let me explain why. From top to bottom. Eric, next is Bart our former foster puppy, then below the sprawling puppy is our dog Casey, and at the bottom is our dog Roux. I couldn’t understand how Casey’s legs were sprawled up like that. But it wasn’t. There are three canines on Eric’s lap. Awww… what a pal!

Anyway, that gives you an idea of who he is.