Late.

Last night we celebrated 26 years married.

Kent and I have often been at the short end of the cash flow stick, so over the years I have become proficient at stretching what money we do make.

See previous post:  baking/juice making....

One of the things we learned very early on in our marriage is this:  even though money is short, we should still celebrate milestones.

So, last night, I met Kent at Il Terrazzo for dinner and then we went to the Langham Theatre for the production of Pride and Prejudice.  (Both were really, really great.)

I left work right away and went downtown, did a some research at MEC and bought Kent the "other half" of the sleeping bag he had purchased back in Dec 2012.  (I thought it was last Christmas...I was wrong).  It took some digging through a database that MEC had, but we found it!  They gave me a slip of paper with what Kent had purchased and was told, tell them you need the opposite side.

So, I wandered through MEC, found the sleeping bag and wandered out.

As I was walking to MEC with my new found gift, that I thought for sure would illicit squeals of joy from Kent, I walked into SUGAR.  Found some of his favourite candies and made my way to Il Terrazzo.

Kent had texted me to say he would meet me downtown early....that didn't happen.

I got my table at 5, early, ordered some wine and waited....and waited.....and waited....

.....the staff came over twice to ask me, "is the gentleman still coming?"

Oh God, they think I am being stood up....

The restaurant is filling up.....they came by again, "Are you sure the gentleman is still coming?"

They want me out so that they can fill this table with people who are really going to order and spend money!!

I order an appetizer. (Scallops/Ahi tuna cucumber and seaweed salad--yum)

Wait.....Wait.....Wait....

The appetizer arrives--it looks amazing, and I arrange my cutlery to have a bite---Just then, I look up to see Kent enter the restaurant.  He is 25 minutes late for our dinner date.

Why is it that we do this to each other?  He knows that I hate being late, hate it when he is late...and yet, he still does it.  I KNOW that there are things that I do that he can't stand, but why do I continue to do this?

I am sitting here Saturday morning, feeling all reflective, tired from not sleeping, irritated that my date was uncomfortable last night.

Is this something that we will conquer?  I highly doubt it.  This is just one of those misfires that makes me remember that we are truly human, truly broken, truly never going to be enough for each other.  So in that frailty and insecurity we walk this through together...shrugging off the pain and frustration of the night before and look forward to our 27th anniversary.

Oh, and PS - there was no squealing of joy at the sight of the other side of the sleeping bag.  Ya, I was disappointed too--but Kent doesn't get that excited or animated about much.