To our 15 subscribers...
Did you notice the link to the questions game on your post notification email? When my good friend, Linda, (you’ve met Linda!) threw my bridal shower, she secretly emailed Dennis a list of questions to answer about himself. Questions such as:
- What is your dream car? (Back then, it was a Humvee. Semper Fi! Today, it would be something much more conservative. I mean, we own two hybrids.)
- What’s your favorite candy bar? (Still Heath Bar)
- Who is your celebrity crush? (It was Drew Barrymore, then. Now it is Matt Damon. Okay, that’s an inside joke because of his love of Matt Damon movies. Now he would say he’s too old to have a crush.)
Then, during the bridal shower, she asked me the questions and I had to guess how he answered. We had so much fun that I still remember many of the questions nearly 20 years later.
In our version, the questions are meant to be answered by both you and your significant other, so that you can share them after. As a bonus, they’ve been written so that you don’t have to play with a significant other. You can play with a friend, or even your children, and it’s still just as entertaining!
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Cindy & Charley
How much did you enjoy last week’s post from our good friend, Cindy? It was interesting to hear her perspective as a blended long distance family (LDF). Even though the dynamics are different than ours, I related to so much! Making the decision to live apart, communicating meaningfully in a way that that works well for both, tackling “honey do” lists when you feel like you should be spending valuable time together. In fact, all couples can find value in the advice she gave.
Long Distance by the numbers
After returning from New Delhi, my husband, Dennis, spent a few days in the DC office, then flew home to Colorado to spend 10 days with us! Once we realized that it was Labor Day weekend which meant Monday was a holiday, he tacked on an 11th day. Hooray!
From the time we left Florida, to picking up Dennis from the Denver airport, it had been 42 days since we’d last seen each other! But not only that…
Dennis hadn’t been home to Colorado in 109 days! Since we didn’t keep up with it in real time, once we got out the calendar and counted days, we couldn’t believe it! For the two previous visits, we met elsewhere. In July, we met in Florida, and our Iowa/Missouri/Arkansas road trip was in June. He spent most of August in India, and here we are. 109 days later.
By the way, how fascinating was Dennis’s post about his trip to India? The trip alone was so far out of his comfort zone. But then to take pictures and write a blog post about it? And, it’s our most-read post to-date! #proudwifeinthehouse
Our visit in Florida was so busy that it went by in a blur, so we decided against over-planning during this visit home. The kids are back in school, we have commitments at taekwondo, and Ben’s taking drum lessons now. We agreed to at least one hike, preferably in the mountains, and to eat at one or two of our favorite local restaurants.
Finally! Our Reunion
He arrived in Denver on a Wednesday night, which worked out perfectly with Jack’s weekly sparring scrimmage near the airport. I considered bringing the big Flat Dennis head with me so that it would be the first thing he’d see as he came up the escalator. But I was rushed and forgot about it.
We have had some fun playing with the flat head around the house. Look how good he looks with Snapchat filters!
I pictured a happy reunion of hugs and kisses since it had been so long since we’d seen each other. In reality, Jack was starving after the scrimmage so we stopped at Five Guys for our favorite burgers and fries, and made it to the airport just as Dennis was getting his luggage. We had just enough time to pull up to the curb (The wrong curb. We could tell by the security guard’s annoyed look as she marched toward us), he hopped in the car and we sped off. Not exactly the greeting I anticipated, but I’ll take it.
Ben was still up when we got home, so we had a quick reunion before retiring to bed. Thursday night, Dennis took the boys to a private sparring lesson while I got a break and was able to prepare a nice meal. Jack has been sparring for about two years, and Ben is just starting to show interest. This is the first time they’ve had a sparring workout together, and Dennis cherished the moment.
Our weekend together
On Fridays, schoolwork is done online at home. Even though the kids and Dennis were working, it was wonderful having them all under the same roof all day. Friday nights are reserved for our required training for our upcoming black belts (first degree for me, second degree for the boys). Saturday mornings are also reserved for taekwondo, where all three of us attend and teach classes. Since my own routine for Saturday afternoons requires a nap after icing my foot (thanks to plantar fasciitis) from all that concentrated taekwondo training, we just hung out for the rest of the day. But we did make it to one of our local restaurants for dinner, The Purple Toad.
We planned our hike for Sunday. A year ago, a friend of mine took me to the Crags Trail on the west side of Pikes Peak, and it immediately became my favorite trail. The hike is almost five miles long, winds through pine trees and aspens, through an open meadow filled with colorful wildflowers, and views of the most amazing rock formations you can imagine. The trail mostly follows a mountain spring which provided the perfect relief for Georgie’s hard-working paws. Then when you reach the top, you can see mountaintops for miles. Between the views and the elevation (the top reaches just under 11,000 feet), it is literally breath-taking!
The Crags isn’t convenient enough for us to hike frequently: It takes us over an hour to drive there. There are many trails more conveniently located to us. This trail requires an entire day, especially since you’ll want to take extra time soaking in the views at the top. I knew Dennis and the boys would love it just as much as I did, so I planned the Crags hike for this trip home.
The Hike
We didn’t get the early start I wanted, and by the time we arrived, the parking lot at the trailhead was full. We found overflow parking which added a half a mile each way to our already five mile hike. I was concerned that I’d set my expectations too high for our fun day. But that fear was quickly squashed as we made it to the trailhead, everyone saw the cool mountain spring we’d be hiking next to, the palette of the rust-colored boulders against the green grass and trees just below the bright blue sky. The best part was that, even though the parking lot was crowded, the trail wasn’t.
Between Dennis and me, we took almost 200 pictures and videos with our phones. Somehow, I even managed to take an amazing 12 minute video from the side-pocket of my backpack by forgetting to turn off my camera! I arranged a compilation using the pictures and video we captured (minus the accidental 12 minute video), and found another hobby: Video production! Take a look…
Notice I'm wearing my favorite colorado/Pink Floyd Wish you were here t-shirt, and the song came on when we were pulling up to the trailhead! #signfromtheuniverse
Does this mean I’m a vlogger now, too? That question is not rhetorical, I honestly don’t know. It’s my first video, but it was so fun to make, that I created a New Nuclear channel so that we can make more! A three minute video is a great way to summarize a five-hour hike and 200 photos. We don’t even have any fancy equipment, just our cellphones and whatever video editing tool comes with Microsoft Windows.
Once Again, The #1 Rule for Surviving a Long Distance Relationship
Remember how I told you that staying busy is the best way to keep from missing your other half? Since I don’t work and our kids are teens, I’ve found that hobbies are a great way to, not only keep myself busy, but also recharge. My hobbies are, primarily, taekwondo and this blog. Now, I have a new one. I’m not saying you have to start a blog, or a vlog, but I do think that everyone can. Everyone has a story to tell.
Everyone has a story: Exhibit A
Some of my friends are already telling their stories:
- Childhood friend, Jessica, and her husband are dealing the avalanche of financial and emotional tolls from a failed business. They have a podcast and have published a book about how their faith has actually become stronger during the chaos. She even gave a shout-out to The New Nuclear on her podcast. Thanks, Jek!
- Taekwondo friend, Amy, has written a book about applying the imperfect lessons she learned from her rough upbringing so that she can break the cycle with her own children.
- Former co-worker, Greg, blogs about retirement and libertariansim. Greg has also been my blogging mentor!
- Cousin and friend, Jay, wrote a great fiction book, but it was based on some events that his family actually experienced.
There have been so many times I’ve listened to someone tell a story and told them, “You should write a book!” In cases of parents entertaining me with stories of their young, rambunctious kids, it was, “You should write a blog!” It may seem, to you, that you’re just out there living your life, nothing interesting about it. But trust me, there are others who will relate to your story. You could even unknowingly share some insight or a solution to someone who desperately needs it.
Anyway, thanks for coming to my TED Talk about blogging and vlogging! It actually feels weird to call it vlogging since there’s very little dialogue in my video. And no, “Hey guys, whazzup it’s ya boi Tracy smash that like button and don’t forget to subscribe!” (if you’re unfamiliar with that particular lingo, ask a child how their favorite YouTube videos end. Or better yet, read it to them in the most exaggerated liveliness you can muster and watch their confusion and/or eyeroll!) Regardless, the video was a blast to make and I hope I’ve inspired at least one of you!
Time Capsule from 1994
Another fun thing we were able to do this week involved opening a time capsule from 25 years ago. When the boys and I visited family in St. Louis a few weeks ago, we brought back Dennis’s Marine Corps seabag from The Gulf War. Soldiers are given a seabag before deployment to carry all the necessary clothing during their tour. Think of it as a military-grade carry-on bag, but about three or four times bigger.
Dennis’s seabag has been closed up since about 1994, and weighs about 100 pounds. When we brought it out, everyone took turns at carrying it (except me, no thank you). Then, we gathered around the fireplace for the unveiling. Not because we had a fire going, it’s August. But that’s where we had the most space to spread it all out.
And spread it out we did. It was like a clown car but full of clothes instead of clowns. There were four pairs of size 11 boots, multiple tee shirts and fatigues, a cover-up to shield him from night vision and infrared, a pair of shorts (That still fit! Thanks, vegan diet!) and a pair of dress blues pants. We looked through it all, tried some things on, then stuffed it back into the bag where it will say for another 25 years.
We don’t have a lot planned for the rest of the week, since Dennis is working from home, the kids are in school, we have taekwondo and drum lessons. But it’s been nice just hanging out, eating dinner together, and taking family walks in the sunny, cooler weather.
Read about the rest of our 11 days together next week. For now, consider writing that book, starting a blog, or capturing some videos.
Until next time, it’s ya boi Tracy signing off!
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Another great post! Thanks for continuing to share your story and others in the same situation- definitely helps!!
You are amazing!!
Thank you, Linda! I’m glad it’s helping others in long-distance relationships!
That was fun and interesting! Great read and thank you for sharing you!
Thanks, Amy! I’m so happy that you read it. I recognize that picture from your book cover and you are beautiful!! Inside & out 🙂
I’m your “blogger mentor”?!
you in trouble boi
Good stuff! Keep them posts a-comin’!!
You sure are, Greg! I’ve gotta say, if anyone was going to pick up on the universe’s sign about our hike, I thought it would be you! Watch the video, it’s less than minutes long!
I’ll keep em comin’ if you keep readin’ 🙂 Thanks for being a loyal reader!
Is it the sparkly fireworks on the car screen? If not, I’m stumped, or at least not pickin up what yer layin down. 🙂
I enjoyed another great post while cooling off from working outside.The stories and pictures are appreciated by your long distance Parents😀
Thanks! Yep, I guess we’re really all long distance now, aren’t we? Everyone’s spread out all over. 🙂
Traci I love this! And that video production is really cool. I’ve thought about blogging about our RV Lifestyle and our travels but have never considered myself a very good storyteller/writer. Is it really as easy as you make it look? You’ve always been such a smart and talented woman. You’ve definitely got me thinking a little harder about giving it a shot. Thanks for sharing your story! I can’t wait to catch up on all your posts!
Lisa, Thank you so much for your nice comments. It makes me happy to know you’ve read some of it and enjoyed it! Every time I look at pictures of your adventures I wonder why you and Rob don’t have a blog yet, because it would be an amazing one! Do it!!
I’m loving the new addition of the vlog with the sweet tunes. The blast from the past and Jack wearing Dennis’ dress blues are too good. You guys are AMAZING for doing that hike. And Georgie looks super fit and happy. <3
Thank you, I have a fun time picking out background music that suits the videos 🙂 I think that trail is everyone’s favorite now. Especially Georgie, he loved the creek. Ben and I put our feet in at the end but it felt like taking an ice bath- OUCH!! Oh and the dress blues jacket is still in St. Louis, so we’ll have to get that on the next trip.