When Reality Gets Checked

The Honeymoon is over.

Now, hold off on the "muahahaha's and "I told You So"s. Because you don't understand.

You see, first marriages, as I've mentioned before, are something completely opposite from a second or subsequent marriage. They aren't two entire families blending. They aren't two adults with "baggage" and previous expectations learning a whole new gamut of idiosyncrasies and habits that engrained in them from someone else's idiosyncrasies and habits.. First marriages are fresh, utopian, and slightly naive. I don't care how old you were/are when you first get married (hopefully, the ONLY time you get married), it's naive in ways that only a long-term married person understands.

And staying in that honeymoon phase for months or even years is highly attainable that first time. In fact, it's highly expected. With no children, and no 'baggage' of exes, it's downright bliss for a long time. Sure, getting married is tough no matter who you are or how in love you are. They have their OWN issues. ANY marriage has those. But first marriages have an abundance of cares-thrown-to-the-wind.

But WIll and I. We are past that feeling of frivoulous happiness. We are IN it. We are living it day to day. We are paying mortgages and raising 7 children and owning vehicles and paying bills. We are past the 'experimental' phase of not knowing what to expect or what marriage is like. We already know. Oh, don't get me wrong, we're learning more and more each day. We're growing and we have sooo much left to learn still. But we're THERE. We're not blindsighted by euphoric honeymooning phases that fade when reality hits hard.

Instead, we've found the way to be THAT in love. But we are still living. With our eyes open. And honeymoon phases dwindle down to 'just being married' and the hum-drum of the monotonous life. And then, newlyweds get a rude awakening to what marriage really is. And they're let down. And THEN they realize that honeymooning is NOT the marriage.

Nope... Me and Will? We've got it figured out. We'll be this much in love once our 'honeymoon phase' ends, and then some. I'm past the honeymoon phase. I don't even WANT to be in the honeymoon phase. I'm into the heavenly phase. The phase where lust and naivety and NOW are replaced with love and comfort and forever.