My husband and I are sweet again. Not that new, sticky, fresh-out-the-can love. (We’ve been at this for far too long; we’ll be celebrating our 10th anniversary later this year.) And neither is it that sluggish, syrupy artificial glaze that typically trails behind bitter apologies or slathers over indiscretions.
No. This drizzle of extra compliments, new playful exchanges and even more brilliantly quiet moments together is fresh. Pure. Like choosing honey for your tea instead of Equal or actually enjoying the lemon ice instead of a banana split.
Pleasant surprises against your tongue and spirit. I like this sugar rush.
What I think I’m savoring most, are the subtleties. Thankfully, “sweetness” is not a novelty with us. My husband and I have always subscribed to date nights, public displays of affection and an unnerving catalog of coded inside jokes.
Still, I find, we evolve. I think the real relationship veterans call this the “settling in” stage. Settling in? Even though I could rattle off his top ten college escapades and he could tell you all the Army bases where my family has lived, we still evolve, mature, shift and … sweeten.
Be clear, this sugar rush doesn’t mean I won’t ever again have to consider hiring a hit man or torching his Ultimate Fighting Challenge DVDs. Jagged chunks of chocolate and pralines refine to simpler sugars in time. Simpler. Easier. Richer. More decadently satisfying. Suckling gooey extract from the tips of my fingers, this “settled in” sweetness is definitely a four-star treat.
