Toads-in-the-Hole

Each year, we greet the anniversary of our marriage with the State of the Union.

The State of the Union typically happens spontaneously, but always in December or January. Memorable addresses have occurred while dining at Portland’s South Park restaurant over a plate of squid ink pasta and while strolling along a snowy sidewalk in a subdivision near St. Cloud. The topic(s) of the reflection has faithfully remained, Us. Last year, we marveled at our ease in acclimating to the Midwest, after such a delightful sojourn in Portland, the city of our spirits. We celebrated our return to theatre with Julius Caesar and trumpeted our academic achievements and new medical knowledge.

This year’s reflection left us stunned …

Remember The Crucible?

Remember our Spring Break trip to Portland?

Remember living in that Meth Lab of an apartment?
Remember the first time we went to the UCC on Easter Sunday?
Remember that time we made those little lime-mint drinks and solidified our relationship with Steve and Jill?

Remember that time we went to France!?

Remember that time we played Adelaide and Sky in Guys and Dolls?

Remember meeting all those townsfolk during Guys and Dolls?
Remember how quiet summertime in Vermillion was?
Remember all that researching Joel did at the Human Services Center?
Remember when the Wurzbergers visited and we got stuck on the Missouri River?

Remember when we found out we were pregnant?

And that’s just through July …

Of course, the State of the Union is not merely a list of reflections, but is also a formal discussion of goals, foibles, wishes, aspirations, and so on. We usually ask each other for constructive criticism on our spousing (i.e. ability to spouse), whether we’re communicating well, if we feel that the housework is equitable. This year, Joel expressed regret that his schoolwork occasionally made him distant and/or crabby. Aimee reassured him that she hadn’t noticed. Aimee suggested that she was becoming very inward and homebound, and Joel pointed out all of her involvement and activity. We agree to small goals, test the waters, and do a lot of complimenting.

There may come a time when we need to be more critical. Long-simmering issues may boil over and need to be mopped up. Maybe, for right now, the State of the Union is mostly practice.