My Top Ten Lists

When a spouse deploys, or lives away, some focus on the good things to get them through, others focus on the bad things because it can be overwhelming. I choose to do a little of both.

Here is my top ten list of uppers and downers about having my husband living far away:

THE UPPERS:
10. Makeup and regular clothes are always optional.
9. Less laundry, less picking up, one less dish to wash.
8. A great excuse to sleep with each one of my kids once a week...
7. And the whole bed to myself the rest of the week.
6. My evenings are my own- to read, watch TV, get on the computer, or clean for as long as I like.
5. I always get first crack at the crossword.
4. Large, time-consuming, elaborate dinners are greeted with 3 frowns and "yucks," while cereal and bananas for dinner brings on the smiles and "yums!"
3. The TV remote is mine all the time, and so are all the shows saved on Tivo.
2. Saturdays and Sundays are lazy and slow- no errands, no projects, no outings.
1. No beard hair in my bathroom sink.

And THE DOWNERS:

10. I don't look so good when I'm always in workout clothes and bedhead.
9. There's one less person at the table to chat with (mostly the adult kind of chatter).
8. My kids are keenly aware of when it's their turn to sleep with me.
7. The bed is awfully big when I'm there by myself.
6. No one to talk to at the end of the day - unwind with, read with, discuss the latest SVU show.
5. The crossword only gets half done.
4. Cereal and bananas for dinner can get old after a while.
3. I'm behind on the Man v. Wild shows.
2. Saturdays and Sundays can be LONG when there are no projects or outings.
1. I miss seeing the beard hair in my bathroom sink.

OK, so I guess there's good and bad in most things in life. And I'm thankful for the balance of both in mine. After all, how can one possibly appreciate the good without the perspective that the hard times lend.