Campaign promises

In my college journal I wrote of my "get Jeff to notice me campaign." Actual quote. (Oh, college journal, how I love you! I figured when I wrote in you instead of doing my homework, it wasn't REALLY wasting time, right?) Anyway, I had my eye on a cute young photographer on the campus newspaper staff where I was editor. (Did that make me his boss?) He was mild-mannered, steady, focused. He seemed rather reserved, aloof even, but I remember attending a gymnastics meet that he was assigned to shoot, and watching him suddenly turn bold behind the camera to get the shots. That intrigued this Lois Lane.

Did I mention Jeff's extreme reserve? It seemed forever before he acknowledged my existence. Just map out our different stories of how we met, should you ask. His version is about seven months behind mine. That's how memorable I was. sniff 

So it's oddly karmic that after 17 years of marriage, what I value most in Jeff is how patient he is with me. I don't thank him enough.

It's time to launch a new campaign.

I still want Jeff to notice me, of course, but this time I want him to notice me appreciating him.

When I got the disk of pictures from our family's session last year, this one was a surprise. I don't remember it being taken, didn't even recall Jeff's show of affection. How much more do I miss?


I host a constant inner debate on whether to continue this little blog, but on this matter I hope it can be a useful tool. I plan to do a weekly post highlighting what I value in my husband. Public Displays of Appreciation, if you will. I realize these posts may not appeal to everyone, but they are important to me. I really believe that as we navigate relationships, we find exactly what we're looking for. If we look for the good, it will be there.

So for this week's PDA, I'm grateful for how Jeff makes me laugh. I'm grateful that, just like when my friend took the photo below and told us to "talk dirty" to each other, our whispered "house" and "laundry" made us crack up. Jeff's a great help in that department, by the way, and this week he did the lion's share of housecleaning while I was up to my eyeballs with a piano recital and birthday parties.

I really did notice.

Happy Valentine's Day, Jeff! I love you.