Every couple has the things they say to each other; things that make absolutely no sense at all.
When Aaron and I first started dating our schedules were so completely opposite it wasn't unusual that we'd go days without really seeing the other. Additionally, Aaron was racing his bicycle, A LOT, so he would be gone most weekends, sometimes a week at a time-- halfway across the country.
Now, y'all know I'm not one to frequently be swept away by emotions and I don't say "I love you" often; yes, I'll tell my nephew, Pepe, niece or sister often but, I'm not a person to say it every time I hang up the phone, or every time I part with someone. I do this for a lot of reasons but mostly because I think the words have become so overused that they begin to have the same value as "I'll see you later." So, I'm a bit of a hold out.
Rewind to my childhood: Whenever my sister and I, (or anyone I was with for that matter) would be walking side-by-side and be separated by some object on our path (a telephone pole or a parked car), we would exclaim, "Bread and Butter!" I never knew why, it was just something we did.
Fast forward to the time when I began dating Aaron: We would often be separated for long periods of time (racing, work schedule, my trips to Maine) so we began saying, "Bread and Butter" at our separations. As if time were a tangible object coming between us. It's something we still say to this day.
Over the summer we went to "America's Stonehenge" and while perusing the gift shop I happened across a book that looked interesting: Strange Beliefs, Customs & Superstitions of New England.
I went back and forth as to whether I would buy it or not but when I opened it to a random page and the first words I read were "Bread and Butter" I knew I had to see what this book was all about. I won't get into the details of the book, simply because that's not the purpose of this post but, apparently the term "Bread and Butter" is New England Superstition. Folklore has it that if an object comes between you and a companion, you must say, "Bread and Butter" or your relationship will end.
As of late, it seems, Aaron and I are living the term bread and butter. Not only have I not been blogging, I haven't been doing much of anything aside from working. Now, don't misinterpret, I am SO grateful to be doing what I love. I am SO thankful that, at 29-years-old, I'm a college professor and I have the most amazing students but, some days I'm clocking about 18 hours outside the house working- and a FRACTION of what's left of the 24, sleeping, grading papers and catching up on chores. It has, to some extent, taken a toll on my mood; I'm tired, sometimes grumpy, and always busy.
That said, my schedule has really taught me to appreciate how patient Aaron is. He has picked up the slack and makes sure I'm not stressed out in any way with things that are within his control. He treats me like a Princess and savors every moment we do spend together. It means so much to me that he not only understands how important it is for me to chase my dreams but, he is also inventive with ways to get me to stop, slow down, and enjoy the fruits of our labor.
I can't say I will slow down at any point in the next year; Aaron knows that, I know that. But, what I can say is this: until I do run out of steam (per se) I have my bread and butter- buttered generously on both sides.
