I smiled to myself as I finished putting on my lipstick.
In a few minutes, I would log onto Skype. My husband’s face would fill the screen of my laptop and our virtual “date” would begin.
After 19 years of marriage, I still feel like I did in the early stages of our relationship: my heart flutters a little and I’m excited to see him. That is a wonderful thing.
When we took our premarital counseling classes with our pastor, he encouraged us to “never stop dating.” We have taken his advice and I would encourage all couples to do the same.
Even when our kids were babies and we didn’t have a babysitter, we would still make time for our monthly date. After the kids were in bed for the night, we would order takeout, light a candle (the candlelight was helpful in hiding the enormous bags under my eyes! 🙂 ), and put on some music, transforming our kitchen into romantic dinner date spot. (Well, as romantic as a kitchen in a rented house with yellow walls and blue counter tops can be!).
As I mentioned earlier in the week, my husband is working in Vermont during the week. So, Skype has become a good friend to us. I love knowing that at the end of the day, I’m not only going to hear his voice but I will see his face.
The kids and I gather around the laptop at the appointed time and we visit for the next hour, recounting what our day has been like. One of my friends suggested that we Skype during dinner, which is a fabulous idea. We will just put the laptop where Doug usually sits and continue to enjoy our meals together.
As my 88 year old aunt said when I told her about Skype, “Isn’t technology something?”
The only member of our family who is thoroughly confused by all this is our Bichon Frise, Buddy.
It makes him crazy. He can hear Doug’s voice but he can’t see him. (My son tells me that dogs can’t see computer screens). His ears perk up and he runs to the front door, his tail wagging excitedly. When Doug doesn’t appear, he sprints across the house to sit in front of the garage door, his little body practically shaking with excitement.
Eventually, his tail wags less enthusiastically, then finally stops and droops sadly.
He then usually slinks over to the sofa, uses his paws to make the pillow flat, spins around a few times and finally throws himself down with a giant sigh. Whatever is going on, he doesn’t like it one bit.
Poor Buddy.
Imagine his joy when he actually sees Doug in person tonight. 🙂
Power Of A Moment 