A Story About Two People

I want to tell you a story about two people.

Two people who fit together, as he says, like a jigsaw puzzle.

I tell him I like him more and more everyday.

There are moments we cling to each other, moments we push away, moments we fall back and moments we fall forward - both alone and together.

We are a complicated pair. In our own heads often. Intense. Independent. Damaged (and I mean that in the best possible way). Passionate. We are so very different and so very much the same.

We have tangled schedules. We tip toe. We ask forgiveness. I soften as I remember these are new pathways and I can choose something different this time.

We inhabit a new territory. Our families broke open. We know that sadness. We know the questions and the fear and the desire to create and build and protect. We know what it's like to know someone forever and ever and then have that person disappear (even though both are still integral pieces of our lives). We know the reality of stories that have an ending.

We also know new joy and we've felt that rush of a beginning.

We are learning as we grow. Alone and together about who we are as individuals and who we are together and what it means to have our families expand.

I don't know how this story will end. It's happening right now and we're living it. Sometimes these sorts of stories are really hard to tell because you're living in the middle of it.

If we always waited for the end to tell a story we'd miss so much.

When I feel most afraid I remind myself that there are things to say, and things to celebrate, and pieces to document without fear of how the story will end. Do stories ever really end? Or do they just change and curve and zig zag and evolve into the next one?

Our family stories are different now, but they are still our families.

What I know is this, he has a huge giant heart of gold even when he tries to hide it with jokes and sarcasm. And the cure for everything just might be pie. Pumpkin for him, fruit for me.

We are in it people. One day at a time.

To be continued.

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186 thoughts

  1. Janet says…
    07/10/2014

    T.S.Eliot said "What we call the beginning is often the end. And to make an end is to make a beginning. The end is where we start from."
    I used this quote in my One Little Word page for July and seems fitting for this beautiful blog post.

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  2. Mary Sara P. says…
    07/10/2014

    This is so awesome Ali. Love it. xo

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  3. Karen C says…
    07/10/2014

    Beautifully said.

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  4. Mary Sara P. says…
    07/10/2014

    ps - I'm so happy for you!

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  5. Bonnie Lamothe says…
    07/10/2014

    amazing, luminous with honesty and raw emotion and ... forward movement, the joy of being brave. definitely one of your best posts. you are so real ali, so honest, so open, I think you are amazing and so very inspirational!

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  6. Hailey Mann says…
    07/10/2014

    wonderful!

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  7. Kris Beauregard says…
    07/10/2014

    You are an amazing writer.

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  8. Debbie says…
    07/10/2014

    Beautiful. Love your ability to tell this story! I wish you both the best!!

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  9. Kathy C. says…
    07/10/2014

    Makes my heart smile for you both!!! :)

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  10. Desiree Leiva says…
    07/10/2014

    "Our families broke open. We know that sadness... We know what it’s like to know someone forever and ever and then have that person disappear... We know the reality of stories that have an ending." This resonated with me so much, Ali. Except for me this is still "I" and not "We." I'm still at the beginning of my journey. Thank you for being an absolute inspiration on how to be in the face and aftermath of divorce. Thank you.

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  11. Carolyn HP says…
    07/10/2014

    Wow Ali, reading this made me so happy for you!

    Love the way you write and that you are sharing such a tender relationship with your audience, friends, blog readers near and far :)

    Also happy to hear you are embracing this new beginning - what a beautiful story and perspective!

    I've now been with my husband 11 years, and 2 years married in August and I am so happy.

    Although before we were married, I was sometimes sad that it took me so long to find my soul mate and that I didn't have children for a few reasons. These days, I'm just thankful to have the love of this good man and to know that we go through life together and that is our story :)

    Every story is so different but still love grows and brings us together.

    Definitely going to pick up Scrapbook on the Road! Thanks Ali!

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  12. Yolanda says…
    07/10/2014

    Oh man, the sentence, "Our families broke open." Hit me so hard. It's the word "open" at the end, and everything that it conveys. The raw gook on the inside. The possibilities that come when something that appeared whole is actually holding a lot more inside. It's an amazing word choice. So different from saying "broken" or "fell apart" (the phrases we often hear). And it's so much more truth. I can't wait to see this in a layout.

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  13. Lauren Lebovitz says…
    07/10/2014

    That was beautiful, raw and vulnerable. Thank you for sharing.

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  14. France says…
    07/10/2014

    I felt this post so much. I too have lived through the endings and found a new beginning. You have captured it beautifully and honestly.

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  15. R says…
    07/10/2014

    These words touched me - right in the heart.

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  16. April W says…
    07/10/2014

    I just adore this...

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Cristina says…
    07/10/2014

    So honest and beautiful. I love how open you are Ali...such a gift to all those who read your words.
    Wishing you all the best on your journey.
    xoxo

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  18. Nikki says…
    07/10/2014

    The "present" is such an often-times rejected gift. I applaud your effort to embrace the stories as they come. I am striving to live more in the moment, to appreciate the here and now, because that's all we have. We don't know when that will change, and even in the messy, scary, sad, angry moments, there are lessons to be learned, beauty to be seen, confidence to be earned and an overcomer's spirit to embrace. Documenting the ups and downs opens a gateway for poignant reflection and a kick ass memoir one day! ;)

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  19. Kelly Fergie says…
    07/10/2014

    Everything about this is beautiful. Heartache is something we all go through you are both so lucky to have someone to mend with.

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Kamie says…
    07/10/2014

    So very happy for you both! What an uplifting post!

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Alida says…
    07/10/2014

    Beautifully written, Ali. Reminds me of what Ann Voskamp wrote in 1000 Gifts: Only God knows how the story ends.

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. sherri says…
    07/10/2014

    so lovely. sending you both love.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Lisa A. A. says…
    07/10/2014

    Thanks for sharing. Know that so many people are happy & rooting for both of you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Denise says…
    07/10/2014

    Ali...you are such a beautiful storyteller. It all comes from deep within your soul. Love.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. Carrie says…
    07/10/2014

    So beautifully written!!!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful continuing story with us! You are such an inspiration in more ways then you know!!!!!

    Reply 0 Replies

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