The Magic Words

One of our first apartments on Curryer St. came with free cable. It was the first time we got the Comedy Channel. Our routine was to watch the Evening at the Improv while we ate our sumptuous gourmet dinner (which was usually shake and baked leg quarters with tater tots and green peas.) What can I say? I didn't have mad cooking skills back then. We also ate a lot of Domino's pizza for breakfast as it was a job perk. Once a guy was doing a set on things he had learned from his marriage. He was offering tips to all the guys so that they wouldn't have to learn by making the mistakes he had made. You pretended like you were going to take notes. He talked about silly and mysterious things women do like put seashells in the bathroom or not let you use the fancy little guest soaps. Then he said that his biggest discovery was the magic words to get out of any bind. I don't know if you remember any of his other advice but I know you took those magic words to heart. Anytime I ask you something you don't really want to answer you say those magic words: "You're thin and beautiful." awww, daisy stomp, how can I stay made at you when you say things like that? Guess I should get you the sampler of lug nuts and spark plugs.

.....because you are soft.

Do you remember our first tradition as a newly married couple?

After reading scriptures and saying our family prayer we would prepare for a good night's sleep. I would position myself in your arms and snuggle close (until I would get too hot) and we would kiss goodnight. Just before drifting off to sleep one of us would whisper, "I love you because..." and then name something about the other and then they would reply, "and I love you because..." After the several months it got harder to come up things we hadn't already said but it was still fun to hear the occasional statement.

Some of my favorites were:

because I have a license to (amazing how much mileage you get out that marriage document!)
because you snort when something really funny makes you laugh
because you think you can kick my butt at Tetris but you can't and you never give up
because you're my beautiful princess
because you are kind to everyone even if you don't like them
because you said yes before I even asked
because you're my sun, my moon, and my stars

and some I said to you:

because you are always honest - but tactful if my outfit is really ugly (and I can't afford better)
because you never let go of my hand in the movies or when we are out walking in public or just staying in and watching TV
because you let me hold the remote control a lot (ok, so we only got 10 stations back then)
because you sat through all 12 hours of Anne of Green Gables and never sighed once
because you are nice to my family and let me invite my brothers to do things with us
because you kiss me tenderly on the forehead in an almost reverent or worshipful way
because you kiss me like in the movies with your hands on my face
because you kiss me even when I have morning breath
because you always open the car door for me and any other door

and once when I so tired I couldn't think and was so comfortably cradled in your arms I said:
"I love you because you are soft." Even now so many years later when we don't actively practice this tradition I like it when one of us randomly mumbles before drifting off to sleep "because you are soft."