Storyworth: Commonality

What are the top 5 things that you and your spouse have in common?

Jason and I have a lot in common. When we were first dating it was sometimes spooky the tastes that we shared, the books and music and movies we loved—even the song that our mother’s sang to get us out of bed in the mornings. We connected on so many levels that by the time we’d been together a few months other people thought we’d been together for years.

Over time we’ve shared so many experiences and our connection has deepened, day by day and year by year, for more than twenty years. We often say that our relationship feels like forever and yet somehow still new and exciting.

There are a lot of shared values and tastes that I could list, but in limiting myself to five, here are the ones that stand out to me today:

5. We both love travel and new experiences and love to share what we experience with each other.

4. We believe in compassion for other people, in gratitude, and in giving back.

3. We both love theatre—seeing it, making it, talking about it, supporting it.

2. We are both willing to work at having better communication, a stronger relationship, and being better partners to each other, even when that effort is painful.

1. We’re both good at being happy and know that it’s not a destination, but a way of life.

I am grateful every day to be married to him!

StoryWorth: Top Five Things Jason and I Have in Common

What are the top 5 things that you and your spouse have in common?

Jason and I have a lot in common. When we were first dating it was sometimes spooky the tastes that we shared, the books and music and movies we loved--even the song that our mother's sang to get us out of bed in the mornings. We connected on so many levels that by the time we'd been together a few months other people thought we'd been together for years.

Over time we've shared so many experiences and our connection has deepened, day by day and year by year, for more than twenty years. We often say that our relationship feels like forever and yet somehow still new and exciting.

There are a lot of shared values and tastes that I could list, but in limiting myself to five, here are the ones that stand out to me today:

5. We both love travel and new experiences and love to share what we experience with each other.

4. We believe in compassion for other people, in gratitude, and in giving back.

3. We both love theatre--seeing it, making it, talking about it, supporting it.

2. We are both willing to work at having better communication, a stronger relationship, and being better partners to each other, even when that effort is painful.

1. We're both good at being happy and know that it's not a destination, but a way of life.

I am grateful every day to be married to him!

Lockdown

Alice's school had a lockdown today. Not a drill.

The school received two anonymous phone calls. The first claimed that someone was trapped in the elevator. No one was. The second claimed that someone had locked themselves in a school bathroom with a weapon. At that point they called the police and put the school on lockdown.

Alice sat in the corner of her math class, squished together with the rest of her class, for thirty minutes. Some of the kids sniffled quietly. At one point someone screamed outside their door and everyone jumped, but stayed calm. In the other class in her grade several people were sobbing and some of the boys were dancing and laughing as the teacher tried to get them under control.

After they were released several people were laughing and many people were talking loudly. One of the other girls was standing with her arms clasped around her and said to Alice "How can they laugh?" Alice explained that it's how some people deal with stress.

I got three emails about the situation as it was happening. The calls were traced to a student in the school and the staff "will work with the student and family to provide the supports the student needs." Counseling staff are available to help other students as needed.

I asked if she cried or laughed. She said neither one. She said that before the lockdown was called they had noticed police cars and fire trucks pulling up outside the building, so she figured that the lockdown was part of a plan. We talked about how good it is to be able to wait for more information before letting your emotions get control, and that if you can do that, then the likelihood goes up of being able to do something helpful if there really is a crisis.

I am glad there was no actual crisis and that Alice and all her schoolmates are ok. Oddly enough, I didn't feel afraid until she was home and safe.