When you have been married 56 years, love has grown to the point that the mushy romantic stuff isn't important anymore. Love is expressed in little ways every day. It's in things like taking out the garbage without being asked and doing dishes or gardening together. Since my hip surgery love is shown in helping me get around, fetching things, and many other little ways. We find ourselves thinking more alike. Leroy will say something that is just what I was thinking about. It has been years since we had a serious disagreement.
When we were dating I anticipated the birthday and Christmas gifts I would receive, wondering what he might bring. Since our birthdays are both in the week before Christmas, we long ago reduced the gifts to one thing which serves for both birthday and Christmas. And now we go out to eat (often on a gift certificate) and celebrate both our birthdays together. We still give each other something but getting a wrapped gift isn't necessary. This year we really hit the bottom of the romantic part of gift giving.
When Leroy asked what I want I told him I wanted a book on church history that was published this year. We stopped at the bookstore yesterday and I went in with him to show him the book. Then I gave him some money and said, "I'm going out to the car so I can't see what you are getting." Sure enough! He came out with the exact book I wanted and handed it to me. No wrapping needed. I ordered his gift online and managed to whisk it away when it came. He will get it on his birthday next week, in the box it was in when it was shipped. It's what's inside that counts.
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