Exit 118 Arlington/Lodi

It was a long drive to Minneapolis. It always seems to get be much longer there than back. I don't know why. The outcome in Minneapolis was really good. We are ever closer to putting this all behind us for good.

We all went together. A family event in support of one another. Although at times I wasn't sure it really was that way. The drive started out a bit stressful. Traffic downtown and we were arguing with each other. One child asleep and one still not even in the car. The weather was reasonable. So I just decided to "study". Car trips for us, usually have a different tone. This one seemed to be unusually stressful.

We get to Madison and pick up the older child. She as usual provides some distraction as we catch up on her life. But the trip still seems odd. Maybe it is the stress of the looming trial the next day.

We stop for dinner. Not one of your favorite meals. Then back in the car and after 3+ hours we arrive at our hotel. It is very late. We are very tired. But there still seems a looming stress. One that seems to be silent.

The next morning we are up. We dress. We head to court. As stressed as we were things seemed to be getting better. We make some jokes, as we always do, to relieve the tension. Then the event takes place. I won't go into the details, but the outcome was in our favor.

Then breakfast and we are on our way home. Although the event is behind us a few things are not as they should be.

Then it happens. Exit 118 in WI on I-94. The exit is for Arlington/Lodi. The "thing" I had beenb. The same gentle rub I had felt so many waiting for finally happens. You reach across the car. Put your hand on the back of my neck. A gentle rub I had felt so many times before. The one thing I like most about our long car rides. That gentle rub that reminds me how in love we are.

Why is it so important? Up to that point, we hadn't so much as held hands (not effectively) the whole trip. We hadn't really even smiled at each other. The stress of the trip was very large. But the things we usually do for each other weren't happening.

But then it happened. It was like magic. It was like it was the exact moment that we both realized that everything was going to be ok. From there on in it was almost like a totally different trip. We held hands for a good portion of the Madison to Milwaukee trip. We kissed several times at the restaurant. When we got home, we had a really nice hug.

So maybe I underestimated the stress we were all under this week. Maybe I didn't realize that we both likely needed a hug (where were those oh so supportive girls of ours?). Maybe I should have listened closer when i found out you had googled how to behave in court, what to wear, etc. But once it lifted it appears we can jump right back to normal with ease.

I am so glad this is almost over. I am so glad that I have you by my side. I am so happy that I know I can count on you to be there for me. I know you always will be there. I know I will always be here for you.

The events of Exit 118 is proof of it all.

You're the world to me. I love you more than anything in the world.