Posts Tagged ‘Broken Heart’

Monday, June 14, 2010

Never imagined today could turn out the way it did. We joined a bike club here in Springfield because we heard that they had group rides for beginners and tonight was one of their cookouts, so we showed up. Everyone ignored us and it seemed totally disorganized, so after a little while, we just left.

We were hungry and in a bad mood, so we stopped at a deli to get something to eat. While we were eating, Ceecee said she thought maybe we needed a separation. She said that we just seemed to be stuck and that something needed to change to get us out of where we were. She said she felt friendship toward me, but that was all, and she wondered if spending some time apart would make things more clear.

Of course, I was devastated and totally against the idea, but I mostly just listened and didn’t know what to say. I never thought it could come to this. I don’t know what to think. Apparently, she’s already been thinking about this, because she told me that she had priced some downtown apartments and some were affordable. I just said that we needed to sleep on it and could we talk about it again another day. Tomorrow is her first day at Dillard’s and everything is changing so fast. Am I losing her?

She wasn’t angry when she talked about it, or even emotional at all. She was just calm and rational, like she’s thought this through and it doesn’t bother her. What’s crazy is that she actually seemed hopeful, like separating could be a good thing. I couldn’t tell if she really meant that maybe it could be a path for us to work things out, or if she really just wants out of the marriage and hopes that if we split up that I will just let her go.

For those of you who have read the original 90 day restoration tour blog, this will be a chance to go back and revisit the story one more time. For you new readers who are following the current journal version of the story, this is just a “We interrupt this blog to bring you…” breaking news kind of post, so you may want to skip this one as it won’t make any sense to you. With that in mind…

In Springfield, Missouri, where most of the story takes place, there is a town square that is the source of much controversy. I’m sure that at one time it was the center of commerce, and a place where the community gathered, but in recent decades, it has been known as the place where the homeless and “undesireables” hang out. Most people avoid it and find it to be a place they’d rather not visit.

The city has tried a number of things to bring the community back to the square, not the least of which is a summer concert series called “sounds on the square.” Local bands and artist perform on friday nights for no charge, and the idea is that the square will draw visitors who will also patronize the downtown businesses. Why am I telling you all this?

It so happens that my wife and I attended one of the free concerts there this past Friday night and it got me to thinking, and remembering. Last year, there were no sounds on the square because the city spent nearly two million dollars on a renovation project that had the square fenced off and closed for nearly a year. We were living in our second loft apartment which overlooked the square at that time.

We’ve since moved, but we had the opportunity to go back to the square friday night. As we were getting ready, I realized that the last time I was at a sounds on the square concert, I was there by myself. My wife and I were separated and I sat listening to the band and wondering if this was going to be my new life.

We had always talked about living downtown and being able to walk to concerts and event like these, and now, my wife was living downtown alone, and there I was attending a concert that we should have gone to together. It was a tough night, but I hadn’t thought about it for a very long time. It was a small surprise when I realized that going back as a happily married couple would be one more little bonus stop on the restoration tour.

Thursday, June 10, 2010

This afternoon, we went in to Queen City Cycles, a bike shop downtown and Ceecee fell in love with this Masi Italian rode bike. They didn’t actually have it at the store, but she saw it in the catalog. We talked about it and she’s really excited.

Then, I walked to the farmer’s market by myself and she was going to meet me there after her interview. She called me as she was on her way and told me she got the job at Dillard’s. She’s going to start at $10 an hour.

At school, she gets all of her summer paychecks in June, so we agreed that she could go ahead and order the bike and pay for it out of her school pay, then make it up out of her Dillard’s checks. It will take two or three weeks for it to get there and we will have the money by then. She’s going to let me ride the Raleigh temporarily.

Sunday, June 6, 2010

So, the rest of yesterday was weird. After the race, we went to the tri store and bought a bunch of stuff. I got some new Saucony running shoes and Ceecee got a pink cycling Jersey and some accessories. Then we went to my Dad’s birthday. I’m really glad Ceecee is still considering my parents to be family. It almost felt normal while we were over there. They don’t know anything about the problems we’re having and considering my track record of failed marriages and relationships, I can’t see telling them.

The sushi party was for the birthday of the wife of one of the teachers at the school where we work. It was mostly younger people there, but we hung out and ate and drank and had a good time. Seth, the guy whose house we were at, plays guitar in a band and he was singing some songs as the evening went on. They kept bringing out shots of tequila and I don’t like liquor, so I wasn’t really drinking them, but Ceecee kept taking shots and I figured she must be feeling them. She came and kind of sat on my lap while they were singing and I held her a little bit and caressed her back.

When we left, I tried to kiss her in the car and she turned away again. I couldn’t believe it. I thought that as much fun as we had and as close as we seemed that last night was the night for sure. It wasn’t. We drove home in a kind of awkwardness and I just don’t know what to do. I just don’t.

Friday, June 4, 2010

Not sure what’s going on with Ceecee, but her Facebook status today said, “My day is improving. Picked up packets for both races tomorrow and tonight is First Friday on the square. I plan to have fun and need to tonight.” Since she’ll be going to first friday with me, that definitely seems to have potential!

Thursday, June 3, 2010

Tonight I tried to get Ceecee to come around. It was time for bed and I just said, “This has to stop. This is us. Things can’t be like this. We’re great together” It didn’t matter. She has really turned her heart against me. I’m beginning to wonder if she will ever come around. We haven’t made love or been close for more than a month now. We sleep in the same bed, but that’s about it. We don’t fight or argue, it’s just either cold or we act like friends, but nothing more.

Wednesday, June 2, 2010

I surprised my wife today by pulling into the parking lot at CD Warehouse. We went in and I bought her the CD, Tea for the Tillerman, by Cat Stevens, the one that has Wild World on it. We listened to it in the car and it really seemed to bring back old memories for her.

Mort Fertel, the marriage guy who is emailing me said to give her a special gift that would really mean something only to her. It was supposed to be something that would show that I am paying attention to her wants and listening to her. He said it could change the momentum of the relationship. I don’t know if it will, but I want to do whatever it takes. We don’t have the money for me to buy something extravagant, but I would if I could.

On Saturday, I’m running my first 5k. I’m really glad to be getting back in shape. My wife inspires me to be better. She is running both the Medical Mile and the 5K and I’m hoping to run the 5k in 30 minutes.

Monday, May 31, 2010

First Monday of Summer vacation that didn’t involve going to jury duty, so Ceecee and I took the day and went to Eureka Springs. It was a really tough day for me. She wore one of my favorite dresses and she looked absolutely amazing. Every day while this goes on, I just keep thinking that she’s going to come to her senses and realize that we need to get back to being happy together.

So anyway, today, I was just sure that the breakthrough would come. That’s actually why I wanted to go down there. It’s kind of a magical place for us and we always have a romantic time. We have a lot of special memories there and I was just sure that if I could get her there and we could spend a day together that everything would change. I tried so hard.

We went into this one clothing store and I bought her this sexy brown top that was really great. We walked all around downtown and sat and listened to music for a while. They have a lot of folk artists who play in the park and there was this one guy who was really good that afternoon. He started taking requests and we called for Cat Stevens. My wife was a Cat Stevens fan when she was a teen and she loves the song, “Wild World.” He didn’t sing it, but we had a good time sitting on the benches.

I took some pictures of her on my phone and she looked so beautiful, but had this sadness in her eyes that really tore me up. We decided to eat dinner at the balcony restaurant which is on the balcony of this old, historic hotel right downtown next to the park. When we were on the stairs, I tried to kiss her, but she turned away and I knew that she wasn’t ready to get close. We had held hands all day and I thought that today was going to be the day, but it didn’t happen. I can’t lose her. I can’t seem to reach her, but I can’t lose her.

Friday, May 28, 2010

Taking a break from all the running and working out and Ceecee and I went to Silver Dollar City again. We really had fun. She let me buy her this really big balloon with other balloons inside of it and we had a super day. The best we’ve had in a long time. We didn’t kiss or anything, but we held hands and went on a lot of rides and had a great time together.

Tonight we had a blast! I have a story for the Springfield Business Journal (a local paper I write for) where we have to try to pair wines with chocolate. It’s Askinosie chocolate, made here in Springfield, and it’s some of the best chocolate you could ever taste. I got some wineries to send me bottles that they think will go well with it and we invited two other couples to taste and make notes. Tomorrow we’re going to do it again with some other couples.

Tuesday, May 25, 2010

Ceecee took her bike out to the Wilson’s Creeek National Battlefield to get some riding experience. I guess it went pretty well. The road out there is pretty hilly, but she said she handled it ok.

I was in jury duty again. The trial finished up and we decided against the plaintiff. His lawyer was one of those ones that has the ads on tv, so it was pretty weird being in there watching all of it. I’m glad it’s over so I can take some time off.

This marriage stuff that this guy, Mort Fertel, is emailing me is pretty weird. He calls his program “marriage fitness,” which is interesting. He talks about why counseling doesn’t usually work and that you need to step away from your problems and focus on doing things that will change the dynamics of your relationship.

He gives really practical things that people can do, and he says you can “build” your marriage fitness like you can build muscle by working out. I’m trying to take some of the advice. I’m willing to do most anything right now just to get things back to going right.