accomplished

We like goals around here, which I think is a good thing. Sure, one of us is a bit more into personal goals than the other, but as a whole we like a challenge, an object of focus and effort and discipline. Even Piglet is learning to achieve little personal milestones. And recently, Mr. J realized a big  life goal, one that he's been working toward since we met. A goal he shared with me on our first date. The fact that he had any goals in life at all, let alone ambitions and a plan of attack, set him leaps and bounds beyond other boys I dated. So I kept him.

In the 10 years since, we've traded places back and forth. For a while, his goals needed my support while my own took a back seat. Later, my goals were the focus. And later still, back to his. It's not been easy, but it's what you do when you are married. Sometimes we just have to pick up the slack for each other. I'm not very good at it, but I try. The past four years have required more patience than I normally can muster. More sacrifices than most girls like. More loneliness than some would choose. Very few breaks from the grind of reality. I knew (hoped?) all these little trials would be temporary, but sometimes it was really difficult to stay positive. Blindly moving forward in support of Mr. J and his goal without knowing when it would really come to fruition. Stumbling through repeated frustrations sustained only by hope and hard work. Putting all our little ducks in a row, putting other dreams on hold, Mr. J doing all he could, garnering the precursory honors, then realizing the remainder must be left to the powers that be.

And now the prize is his. Mr. J made the plan, he did the work. He did it well. He paid his dues over and over again. He never lost sight of the distant goal, never quit on his objective though often it seemed forever just barely out of reach. It's in his hands now. (No, it's not glamorous). And he is happy (sacrifices well worth it). And I am proud. And it feels so very grown up, yet slightly goofy, and even anticlimactic. But good.

Now maybe I'll train for that marathon.

Or half marathon.

Or how about a 5k?