The Truth About Love

You know the honeymoon is over when the you call home to say you'll be late for dinner and the answering machine says it is in the microwave.

I'm not the mushy, gushy type of man, so I don't always write really nice things about my wife, Heather. I think that's probably the comedian in me. She's the same way, but she's also a comedian. Comedians, in general, tend to be more sarcastic on stage or in print than in a person to person situation.

Today, however, I would like to express my love and gratitude for my lovely wife. She just left to join a group of people who will travel to Colorado for a Ragnar race. If you're unfamiliar with these events, they are team races where each member runs segments of the race, non-stop, until it is over. They are long races, but the team members part knowing they've been a part of something very special and they forge lifelong friendships with people they may not have known before.

This race will take Heather away for almost four days. Not until someone close to you leaves for a period of time, do you realize how much you love them. Our marriage isn't perfect, mind you, but I've yet to see one that is. We have had some minor and major ups and downs but, all in all, it is a good marriage.

Heather is a very courageous woman who started running marathons with a hip that had been destroyed by a significant altercation some years ago. No, I didn't do it. I won't divulge details because how it happened is not as significant as what she has accomplished with the injury.

I will include a link on YouTube of an international television show travelled to our little town to film a segment on Heather's story. It's really quite amazing. When she started running, she could barely walk. No kidding. She could only take a few steps without falling down. I took her to the University of Utah orthopedic center, one of the best in the world. Following a series of MRIs, the physician assistant, who is a runner, asked Heather how she was able to walk at all.

The PA said that Heather had the hip of an 80 year old woman, a charge we've been cleared of. Thanks, I'll be here all week. Be sure to tip the wait staff. She was told to at least get a cane and when she was ready, to schedule hip replacement surgery. She was in her twenties! A hip replacement? Really?

Undeterred, Heather began running on a treadmill, rather than use a cane. Running. She could barely walk! There was just no stopping her. The treadmill was in the basement and while she was running, I could also hear her sobbing from the pain. She would not stop. She ran more than 3,000 miles, two full marathons and about a dozen half marathons until she had her hip replacement. A miracle.

She still runs. Aside from her third Ragnar event, she has run another half marathon and is training for another. Simply amazing.

As you can see, she has a "Will Do" attitude, a step up from "Can Do". Failure is not an option. She also went to work when I became disabled. In addition to performing on the comedy stage, she started as a part time teller at a chain of local credit unions. A little more than a year later, she has been promoted twice, the latest to lead teller.

So, yes, we have our ups and downs as a couple, but I love my wife and I'm very proud of all that she has accomplished.

Here's the link to the television segment: http://goo.gl/v1LMqK

See you tomorrow.

My books: Amazon.com
Facebook: Jerry Mabbott
Twitter: @jmabbott
Blog: jmabbott.blogspot.com