pieces and ponderings

319.  That’s the number that I found written on a steamed mirror this morning.  It made me smile.  I knew the moment I saw it, the day of the month, the 29^th.  For a brief moment, my very competitive side (a nature that at times possesses not only a side of me, but all of me) rose up and I thought, “Arrgh, he got me again.”  And indeed he had.

319.  That’s the number of months my husband and I have been married as of today.  Yes, my husband counts the length of our married years in months.  And yes, he remembers the new number every month.  And yes, it’s very sweet.

A few years ago, we developed this “healthy” little competition to see which of us could wish the other a “happy-month-a-versary.”  Bryan D. is really good at the remembering…I am not so good…in fact, I stink at it.  And that’s a funny thing between us because he is not usually the one who remembers things very well.  Me, on the other hand, remembers freaky details…like the birthdays of people whom I’ve not seen in decades.

But when it comes to our “month-a-versary” I just don’t remember…until I find a number written somewhere on the 29^th of a month…or when my husband just happens to drop a number in a conversation we are having on the 29^th day of any month.  As soon as I hear a random number that has absolutely nothing to do with anything we have been talking about…I know…he’s got me again…he remembered and I did not.

There used to be a little piece of paper stuck on the front of our refrigerator with a number on in and a smiley face…I put it there.  It was one of the few times that I actually remembered the “month-a-versary” before he did.  I left that piece of paper, declaring me the winner of our monthly competition, for months…actually for about 3 years.  And in those 3 years that followed my one victory, Bryan Darling, would catch me again and again and again with a surprise “month-a-versary” reminder.

This morning on the 29^th of July, 2011, was no different…he remembered while I was more concerned about getting to our daughter’s college orientation.  I like it that he remembers.  It reminds me that he loves me.  It reminds me that I am blessed like crazy.  It reminds me that sometimes it is important to remember the little things in life.  319…a very good number indeed.