Level Orange

Nearly three years ago, I asked my wife to marry me, and in that time, we’ve rarely spent more than a day or two apart. In fact, I can probably count the times on one hand.

Today, due to some unfortunate circumstances, my wife and I are separated again, albeit temporarily. Her latest diagnosis from her doctor is high blood pressure (aka PIH, or Pregnancy Induced Hypertension), with a heavy prescription of bed rest. It’s really the best solution, I think.

The only problem is that my schedule, especially towards the end of the month, is so crammed with late nights and weekend work that she’d spend most of the day alone in the apartment. Now, while some folks might find that prospect appealing, Carol can’t stand the boredom and loneliness. I can understand completely. She’s pregnant and she needs attention, warranted or not. So with that, she decided to stay with her parents for the remainder of the pregnancy, which might be another four weeks. There she can get the attention she needs all day, three well-cooked meals, and a comfortable place to get some rest.

So there I was, thinking this whole thing out sitting in front of my computer, which I hadn’t done in a while. My monitor had just fried itself a couple of days ago, so my first project was to go out and purchase a new one and set it up. Turns out the hardest part was deciding which one to purchase.

After I brought it home, setting the thing up was a three-step process. Damn Apple Computer! Can’t they see I’m trying to keep myself occupied?

In the middle of the whole plug it in, turn it on operation, I plunged into thoughts of uneasiness. Something was missing. Something was out of place.

I realized that things had, in a way, come around full circle. Here I am, much like I was three years ago, sitting in front of my computer–alone, hungry, missing my girl–and it felt wrong. I can remember us going out on a date, me dropping her off at her house, and rushing home (some forty miles away) just to call her up and talk to her again. It was insane.

Today, I felt the same urge–to call her up and talk to her all night. But she needs her rest, and I’ll just have to deal with my end. It’s nothing new for me, just a reminder of a life I no longer have.

She’s where she is for a good reason, I know, but it still hit me in the gut when I left her there. Not wanting her to be concerned or worried about me, I just told her everything would be fine. And, truth is… it will. I’ll be seeing her soon, and when I do, she’ll be bringing our baby boy into the world.