This weekend we went to a wedding in Virginia. We're both pretty busy with work at the moment, so it was a quick trip (literally, flying in on Friday afternoon and flying home Sunday night). Still, it was a great time. Friday and Saturday night were great -- spending time with our friends, meeting new ones, etc. The wedding was at a winery, so I was in heaven!
On Sunday, we even had the chance to see a few of the sights in Washington, D.C. We had a fantastic lunch at the cafe in the W Hotel, just next to the White House, then spent a couple hours walking around the National Mall, where we saw the following: Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House, WWII Memorial (a new one for me, since my last time in DC, and our favorite), the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and a few other statues and memorial dedications. While walking along the national mall, an elderly couple strolling along caught my eye. "I wonder what we'll look like, what we'll wear, where we'll go for vacation, when we're old," I said.
I haven't really let myself think that way much with Sheldon. I have been afraid to look forward to something, in case the unthinkable happens again. I have been hesitant to assume that we will, in fact, grow old together -- it's not the together part that is a question, but the "growing old" part that I have a distrust of, deep in my heart. I had planned on that, banked on it, dreamed of it, and built my life around that assumption once. It's taken me a while to start to think I could start doing that again.
I still know that it might not happen, and I still have a fear of tragedy that casts a larger shadow on my psyche and my vision for the future than most people. Still, I am starting to be more objective and know that that kind of thinking is based in fear and pain, and isn't rooted in a logical assumption of life, based on what normally happens. More importantly, it isn't based in hope and love.
I always want to look at the world with eyes of possibility and love, not fear and protection. I always want to hope, dream, and love fully. I took a step in that direction amongst the trees lining the walkway between Washington and Lincoln this weekend, and I like where I am heading. And I love the man who will grow old next to me as I walk that path.
On Sunday, we even had the chance to see a few of the sights in Washington, D.C. We had a fantastic lunch at the cafe in the W Hotel, just next to the White House, then spent a couple hours walking around the National Mall, where we saw the following: Washington Monument, Lincoln Memorial, the White House, WWII Memorial (a new one for me, since my last time in DC, and our favorite), the Vietnam Veterans Memorial, and a few other statues and memorial dedications. While walking along the national mall, an elderly couple strolling along caught my eye. "I wonder what we'll look like, what we'll wear, where we'll go for vacation, when we're old," I said.
I haven't really let myself think that way much with Sheldon. I have been afraid to look forward to something, in case the unthinkable happens again. I have been hesitant to assume that we will, in fact, grow old together -- it's not the together part that is a question, but the "growing old" part that I have a distrust of, deep in my heart. I had planned on that, banked on it, dreamed of it, and built my life around that assumption once. It's taken me a while to start to think I could start doing that again.
I still know that it might not happen, and I still have a fear of tragedy that casts a larger shadow on my psyche and my vision for the future than most people. Still, I am starting to be more objective and know that that kind of thinking is based in fear and pain, and isn't rooted in a logical assumption of life, based on what normally happens. More importantly, it isn't based in hope and love.
I always want to look at the world with eyes of possibility and love, not fear and protection. I always want to hope, dream, and love fully. I took a step in that direction amongst the trees lining the walkway between Washington and Lincoln this weekend, and I like where I am heading. And I love the man who will grow old next to me as I walk that path.
No comments:
Post a Comment