Little Reminders

Today I cleaned out the cars. This gets done, roughly, once a year, usually right after school gets out. While I was cleaning out my car I found two reminders: a piece of plastic that broke off my car and a piece of an old pink balloon.

I'll start with the balloon. I've rediscovered this piece of balloon in my car for the past 5 years. I keep it as a reminder.

Five years ago Zack and I were happy-go-lucky newlyweds. We lived in an apartment that we thought was fabulous. Zack was finishing his senior year of college and I was in my 3rd year of teaching. At the time, I was carpooling to work. Every morning I would drive over to Behhhcca's apartment and we (and another girl) would drive up to Clearfield. We traded off driving every week. The week of Valentine's Day it was not my turn to drive. So my car sat in Behhhcca's parking lot every day that week.

Enter clever Zack!
He spent Valentine's Day writing little notes and blowing up balloons, enough to fill my car. When I got to Behhcca's apartment after school I found a car full of balloons. I had no choice but to pop the balloons right then because I couldn't drive home otherwise. Zack had thoughtfully left a pin for just that very purpose. I spent the next 15 to 20 minutes popping balloons and reading little notes.

Months later, as I was cleaning out my car, I found part of a balloon that didn't get cleaned up with the rest of the balloons. It made me smile and remember how sweet my husband is. So, instead of throwing it away, I decided to keep it in the car.

So, today as I was cleaning out my car, I got to stop, smile and remember how sweet my husband is again.

And now the plastic...
The piece of plastic from my car reminds me of how much I have learned and how much I still need to learn.

Years ago Zack had to have some minor surgery. We were engaged at the time. I, being an incredibly naive and selfish girl, wasn't sure if I was going to go be with him at the hospital the day of the surgery. In my mind we weren't yet married, he had a mom, and mom's were supposed to take care of their kids, right? I'd take care of him once we were married, right?
I didn't yet realize my "role" as the fiance or wife. I do now, thank goodness. (My role is now to protect and do everything for my husband. Nobody better hurt him (including me), try to tell him what to do, or undermine MY authority as the wife...)

Zack seemed hurt that I wasn't sure if I was coming to the hospital. (DUH.) Thankfully, I talked to my mom about it and she, in not so many words, said "Of COURSE you should be at the hospital!!!" Sooo, I went. In fact, I picked him up at his house to take him to the hospital. I had him drive. (I know, I know. I was a jerk.) He was so nervous driving there that as he was trying to pull the sun-visor down he broke a piece off of it. I keep that piece. It reminds me of how much I didn't understand then.
When Zack came out of the anethesia later that day, he wanted to see me. Me! I guess I didn't realize until then how I fit into his life. I came before everyone.

That piece reminds me how much my husband loves me. It reminds me how insensitive I was before we got married and reminds me to not be that way anymore. It reminds me of how sweet Zack is to put up with me and all the dumb, insensitive things I do. It reminds me to be a better wife.