Sex and Duluth

I’m
feeling very married these days. More than when I stood in front of the
judge, more than when I opened a joint checking or co-signed a
mortgage. And even more than when I drove away from the hospital with
our first child.

While my marriage has seen its share of compromise, we’re on the
brink of its biggest conciliation to date. We’re moving for my
husband’s career – to Duluth.

It’s a good opportunity; it really is. But I’ve been so deep in
mourning I’ve had a hard time hearing all the good reasons. My husband
had to all but don sock puppets (speaking loudly & slowly) to help
me to follow the logic of the career potential, the insurance benefits
(we currently buy our own) and the beauty of moving to a less inflated
housing market. It’s all good; I know, but we’ll be moving for his great adventure and I’ll be the tag-along – the little woman, the Stepford wife.

So I’ve been in ostrich mode lately and decided to cope by not. I
ordered all six seasons of Sex and the City (SATC) from hclib.org and
have been watching them on my Mac laptop – propped up on the kids’
bathroom stool – where I can see it while in a hot bath drinking a glass
of wine. This is a good place to be while waiting for your bed’s
electric blanket to heat up.

And while I was deep into my media therapy session watching the
writer commentary, she said it. Some fancy screenwriter was commenting
that SATC had to be in New York because it is so alive, so vibrant…and
because (and I paraphrase here,) “Who would watch a series called Sex
and Duluth
?”

NO SHOUT OUTS TO THE SAD WOMAN IN THE BATHTUB!

This got me thinking that it’s NOT the time to invite me to a bridal
shower. I’ve long held the belief that one should be wary of any life
event that requires a “shower.” Those of us who have done said event,
like the married women who typically throw these gatherings, can’t
bring ourselves to tell the bride the cold truth about her future
institution, so we just buy her a Cuisinart instead.

I’m afraid if I attended in my present state, I would lose my head
and leap up and start shaking the bride. “Don’t you know that what this
party means? One day you could be unexpectedly plucked from the beige
rambler of your dreams – the one with the open floor plan, first floor
laundry and solid school district – and cast out of the Cities to a
place that is the butt of screenwriter jokes!” I’d then have to
straighten myself up, smooth out the bride and excuse myself to the
restroom where I’d climb out the window.

Of course, it is not like I’m leaving the Twin Cities forever. I’ll
be back for overnights probably twice a month to retain some writing
clients here and stay with my fabulous mother-in-law.

And there are moments, when I’m clear-eyed and possess a willing
spirit, when I can actually see where my husband is coming from. It
really is a great opportunity for our family and Duluth does have a
tempting lifestyle. But I’m not putting everything I own into a truck
for job or a big lake. I’m doing it because I love my husband and want
to support him in his career as he has supported me in mine. Because
you see, I’m married.


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