A Story About Two People
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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 comments
I just adore this...
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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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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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Everything about this is beautiful. Heartache is something we all go through you are both so lucky to have someone to mend with.
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So very happy for you both! What an uplifting post!
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Beautifully written, Ali. Reminds me of what Ann Voskamp wrote in 1000 Gifts: Only God knows how the story ends.
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so lovely. sending you both love.
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Thanks for sharing. Know that so many people are happy & rooting for both of you!
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Ali...you are such a beautiful storyteller. It all comes from deep within your soul. Love.
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So beautifully written!!!! Thank you for sharing your beautiful continuing story with us! You are such an inspiration in more ways then you know!!!!!
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pure. awesome-ness! such a beautiful story!
and love this --> "If we always waited for the end to tell a story we’d miss so much."
as always, thanks so much ali for the inspiration.
live your story.
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You sure do know how to use your words! :)
Beautifully said.
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Beautiful story, beautifully written....touched my heart. Thank you for sharing your journey and your stories with us. I am SO rooting for the both of you :)
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How beautiful. Wow.
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you just have the best way with words. did you know that about yourself before you began scrapbooking? beautiful. great pictures, and a deep heartfelt story. thank you for sharing.
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Ali this particular part really hit me -- really sort of life changing way of looking at things:
"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?"
Thank you!
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And this was beautiful. This is not my story, but I felt your loss, sense of hope and desire for growth. Honestly, I am so happy for you and have enjoyed seeing Aaron pop up more and more through your PL pages :-) So glad you are getting another chance to create a beautiful story.
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Writing of hopes, writing in the middle and then being able to go back and write at an endpoint or significant milepost are techniques core to your career... Beautiful writing here reminding me if those simple writing perspectives.
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WOW, I really liked THIS:
If we always waited for the end to tell a story we’d miss so much.
Also, being in my own second marriage, I smirked at the line of him hiding with jokes and sarcasm. (I have that NOW, too, in my second husband. Sometimes, it can be so enlightening and other times, drive me CRAZY because sometimes you just want an honest, straight-forward answer or conversation.) I am thankful EVERY DAY that while out looking for MYSELF, we found each other (and we now have two beautiful children to make our lives complete!)
Always inspiring, Ali. Thank you... yet again!
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I really struggled with getting my relationships into the scrapbook. As an unmarried woman, it was so hurtful to have to break open all my dating history, to see it documented for everyone to see, see all the "failure" and pain. I wondered sometimes why I did it. Ive been with my guy for 9 years now, and Im very thankful I did, because I can now see the contrast. And even after 9 years, our story is still open ended- arent the best stories?
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