“I ask you to pass through life at my side—to be my second self, and best earthly companion.” Charlotte Bronte
My husband and I are headed out of town right now—so this will be shorter than usual.
We’re going to MerleFest—a four-day music festival in the mountains of North Carolina. We’ve been going for over a decade.
If I’m honest, he’s the bigger music fan.
But over the years, it’s become more than just a festival—it’s something we do together.
Sometimes we split up and listen to different artists.
Sometimes we sit side by side.
But no matter what, we always find our way back to each other.
And that’s the point.
We’ve been together for over 40 years. And one of the reasons we’ve made it work this long isn’t luck…
It’s intention.
We made a decision early on:
We weren’t just going to run a household.
We were going to build an “us.”
That meant doing things together—even when it wasn’t our personal first choice.
Not out of obligation.
But because it reinforced something bigger.
Love.
Connection.
Partnership.
A lot of men don’t realize this until it’s too late:
You can be a great provider, a solid dad, and still slowly drift apart from your wife.
Because relationships don’t stay strong on autopilot.
They stay strong because you invest in them.
You maintain your individual interests—yes.
But you also protect the things that belong to both of you.
That’s what keeps the relationship from turning into logistics… schedules… and silence.
So here’s the real question:
What do you and your wife do that’s just for the two of you?
And if the answer is “not much lately”…
What’s gotten in the way?
Reach out and tell me—I read every response.
For now, I’m heading into a weekend of music… and time that keeps our “us” strong.
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