Tuesday, March 24, 2009

Small Things

( Words & Pictures)

A cup of tea in the morning to help me wake gently and face the day. The driveway gates left open and the outside light shining bright for me when I come home after a night's teaching. They sound like small things, these little kindnesses.

He doesn't sweep me off my feet with grand gestures or lavish gifts. But he has driven me to work during thunderstorms when my own phobias have prevented me from doing it myself. He fixes my punctures. He fixes my aunt's punctures. Actually, he fixes everything. He accepts my utter squeamishness and deals with the vomit clean-ups and the dead birds. He comes to my tap performances and acts as my roadie.

He wanted to surprise me once with a pushbike. A friend passed on a red womens bike and he spent ages doing it up as a surprise, his little secret-in-the-shed that only he and the boys knew about. And then when it was finished he decided that my original chunky purple bike was far more me and fixed that up instead. I remember that as one of the most romantic things he's ever said to me.

He remembers (mostly) to tape shows for me when I'm out working, to turn my electric blanket on before bedtime on cold nights and to check first before he organises a night out or a weekend motorbike ride with his mates.

He's a male, he's fallible. He doesn't always get it right. But the small things he does for me, willingly, reliably and lovingly add up to a great big love.

small things_7904

37 comments:

  1. oh wow! Such lovely heartfelt words. Very special.

    ReplyDelete
  2. This post is beautiful.

    I love your "little kindnesses". He's a keeper.

    ReplyDelete
  3. that is so sweet! love it when they turn the blankies on for you!

    ReplyDelete
  4. It's all about the little things. Trust a guy that will turn your lecky-blanky on before you trust a guy who brings home flowers. This is M's theory and she's sticking to it.

    ReplyDelete
  5. What M said.

    He shows true thoughtfulness.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Beautiful. What a sweetheart x

    ReplyDelete
  7. Beautiful post. He sounds like a good one. It's amazing the things that (as a real adult woman with kids) become the height of romance, isn't it? A bit different from how one might imagine in youth.

    ReplyDelete
  8. Those are the things that really matter.

    (Don't forge that he also tells you all about physics- that is lovely too.)

    ReplyDelete
  9. Mmm, Mr Nice Fixit. Good catch hon.

    ReplyDelete
  10. Yes, I reckon he is pretty special, and a good bloke.
    Loved your photo: thanks very much. That zip should be fixed though.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Awwwwwwwwww, shucks! So, so sweet. Congratulations on your nearly 15 years together!

    ReplyDelete
  12. That's just lovely.

    You're right... it's the little things. Anyone can make a sweeping gesture once in a while, but constantly doing the little things shows real love and commitment.

    ReplyDelete
  13. Oh he is about as perfect as a man can be!

    ReplyDelete
  14. aww, that is so sweet ( as is that photograph )

    awww !

    ReplyDelete
  15. What a lovely post! It is indeed the little things that count. (That, and being able to fix things).

    ReplyDelete
  16. Ahhh... you've got 2 years on us.

    I still think the spontaneous, unplanned proposal I received in front of the refrigerator, was the most romantic proposal ever. It was heartfelt.

    These daily gestures, of things we genuinely need and desire are so important. And they stand the test of time. I'll take that over slick and debonnaire any day. It's trustworthy.

    Yay for you and Mr. Fixit. He's a keeper.

    ReplyDelete
  17. Those small things do add up to big love, don't they.

    ReplyDelete
  18. So romantic. Especially the part about cleaning up the puke.

    ReplyDelete
  19. That is the sort of romance I want...

    ReplyDelete
  20. I think he's worth his weight in bike parts, myself.

    ReplyDelete
  21. How wonderful, to write about someone with such love after 15 years together. What a fabulous gift!

    ReplyDelete
  22. Beautiful! I love that photo you have framed, lovely.

    ReplyDelete
  23. Aw. I'm crying a little bit in happiness for you. I think you deserve a medal for actually noticing those little things. If everyone took a leaf out of your book, there would be a lot more people smiling and making goo goo eyes at one another. You are great.

    ReplyDelete
  24. Those are the things that keep you from strangling them on the bad days. The hormone days. The little thoughtful things that do mean more than the big gestures.

    ReplyDelete
  25. P.S. This post got lost in my subscriptions! Just got it now!! Sorry I'm so late.

    ReplyDelete
  26. You get told about physics too?

    ReplyDelete
  27. He's a good one, SG. And so are you. Keep each other.xxxx

    ReplyDelete
  28. Now you've got me crying. So sweet. The little things add up to a whole lot of love I think.
    You two are the real deal, me thinks.

    ReplyDelete
  29. And what a perfect picture. I like that it's not staged, but a moment, a perfect moment.

    ReplyDelete
  30. Oh, that's so beautiful. Aren't you two lucky!

    ReplyDelete
  31. oooh, what a great bloke :) 15 years together ... wow!!!

    ReplyDelete
  32. He sounds just lovely.
    (dancingmorganmouse)

    ReplyDelete

Don't let the cat get your tongue.