The year was two thousand and.. I don't recall exactly, but it was a while ago. Mike and I decided to go snowboarding with some friends. (I know, me snowboarding, what a joke) For those of you who don't know, I am crummy at two main sports related things, balance and endurance, which are both "must haves" in the field of snowboarding. Needless to say, halfway through the day and immediately following my fifteenth fall, my muscles decided they had had enough and refused to aid my body in getting off the ground. I was cold, I was frustrated, I was ashamed and I may or may not have said some swears (who am I kidding, I know I said some swears and I know which ones I said.) So there I was, laying flat on my back, with this crippling board strapped to my feet, wanting to sink into the snow and stay there when all of a sudden, a silent Mike effortlessly slid over to me, picked me up and sat me on his lap. He just held me there, knowing instinctively that all I needed was his reassuring comfort to feel strong enough to get back up.
Fast forward eight or nine years. Things are not going as planned this week. Kids are really sick, no one in our home is sleeping and a quick trip that I was counting on was rearranged so badly that none of the original elements of the trip even exist anymore and no one at the airline can manage to tell me any good news. I am frustrated, tired and I may or may not have said a few swears in the midst of my grown up tantrum. And there is Mike. He silently takes me in his arms and holds me there until I can get back up. Thank you, Mike, for being my rock. I love you.