Man, you are annoying me!

They say two of the hardest things on a marriage are moving and loss of a job.  Well, we voluntarily did both of those, at the same time.  Again, are we crazy?

Uhm, today the answer was yes.  Today was just one of those days where the mere fact that my husband was breathing too close to me was annoying.  His lurking over my shoulder as I tried to read the paper-- annoying.  His asking what I was doing when the answer was quite obvious -- annoying.  The smell of his coffee.  ESPN first thing in the morning.  Leaving crumbs on the table from his breakfast. All annoying.  The fact the kids were at school and could not provide a diversion from his annoying me?  More annoying.

Ron and I have been married for almost 16 years.  Actually 15 years and 10 months.  5,752 days. 138,048 hours. 8,282,880 minutes.  496,972,800 seconds. 

For the past 37 days we have been in each other's company virtually 24/7.  Again, we did this by choice.  For the most part we have been getting along great.  Surprising well, actually.  We have actually begun to have similar thoughts and opinions.  Yesterday, we both wore the same color shirts without intending to do so.  Neither one of us is used to not working. We are not used to having our days to spend with each other without the kids home.  What to you do after the kids are at school and "Mike and Mike in the Morning" is over?  (Besides that). 

I think it was obvious that he was just on my nerves.  And it wasn't anything in particular he was doing.  He was just there. When I am not used to him being there. All. The. Time.

The fact that is was windy and trying to rain made it more difficult to send him off to the beach.  Was there an errand I needed to run?  Or he needed to run?  Run somewhere.  Anywhere.

The really great thing about my husband is that I can be really honest and say whatever I am thinking or feeling and he rarely gets offended.  So, time to lay it on the line. 

"I am going to the store."

"Want me to come?"

"No."

"What store?"

"Any store.  Alone."

He got the point immediately because his response was "Am I doing something in particular to bother you or I am just annoying you?"

"You are just annoying me."

To which he shrugged his shoulders and said "OK."

You have to keep in mind that any store of significant size is at least 15 minutes away.  Just to walk around Wal-Mart would require me to be gone at least an hour. 

Alone.

So, I set off, headed for North Myrtle Beach, the closest shopping mecca.

Alone. 

I picked up a few things at Wal-Mart.  I looked at some shoes.  I looked at paint samples and ceiling fans at Lowe's.  I stopped at a couple consignment shops (there are tons here!) and a few little gift shops. I bought the tackiest glass fish vase that I love.  You know the kind, the vase opening is his mouth...

Alone.

Then, as much as I hated to admit it, I didn't want to be alone.  As much as I was annoyed by my husband's presence this morning, when I was alone I still missed him.  He is still my best friend.  He is still the person I depend on the most.  He is still the person that makes me laugh the most. He is also the person that frustrates me the most.  And angers me the most.  And annoys me the most. Some days being married to him are really fun and easy.  Some days being married to him are really difficult and hard work.  But, all days I love him.  Even when he annoys me.  I can't imagine taking this journey with anyone else.

Crap, even that realization annoys me!