Kate and I have decided to go our separate ways, at least as far as domiciles go.
Before you go and get all sad about this very recent development, let me assure you that this was a decision reached amicably and soberly by two mature adults (or at least one mature adult and me), and we are both quite comfortable with it.
We will remain good friends who care about one another, especially when it comes to sharing a dozen grilled Apalachicola oysters from The Acme Restaurant. (Always a great deal for me because I can eat seven before Kate gets to five!)
The reasons for this new arrangement are complex and, frankly, none of your damn business; however, since you've been kind enough to read this blog for the past two years (!!), I'll give you the very truncated explanation:
For everything, there is a season...
Kate is very fond of this little piece of Biblical wisdom, and so am I. When we met two years ago, we were both in need of someone with whom we could share a life. I was trying to create a little distance between myself and the previous very difficult three years while Kate, for reasons of her own, was looking for an overweight Jewish guy who could explain to her why Seinfeld was funny. It was a match made at the intersection of Dorchester and South Boston. Believe me, this was a trade that helped both teams. Josh Beckett for Hanley Ramirez. (an apt comparison since, evidently, one of the two enjoys fried chicken quite a bit)
Now, there is a new season at hand. It's really as simple as that.
I will be forever grateful for these past two years. Kate brought quite a bit of sunshine into my life which had been partly cloudy with a chance of thunderstorms at best. We were able to travel to places like Banff, Canada, New England, Asheville, NC, and New Orleans. We were able to enjoy everything this part of the Panhandle has to offer. We made very few demands of each other. I was able to play golf as much as my cranky back would permit and Kate was able to watch Judge Judy as much as she could stomach. ("Kate, I think I've seen this one...Is this the one where Judge Judy loses her patience with the stupidity shown by one or both of the complainants?" "Very funny, Joel!") I was the lucky recipient of many a delightful meal prepared by a wonderful and inventive chef. I had the privilege of meeting Kate's four exceptional sons, their wives and children, and her very sharp Dad. She was able to meet and charm my wonderful crew, as well as about 75 good friends in New Hampshire and Massachusetts. All of these experiences served to brighten both of our outlooks considerably.
There has been quite a bit of laughter that passed between us these past two years. It started on the very first night we met. We were at an Italian restaurant called Tuscany. The food was good but the lounge piano player was so loud, especially when he broke out into a full-voiced version of The Phantom of the Opera, that we could barely hear each other. Given my conversational skills, this was the best possible outcome. What else was there to do but laugh?
Kate shared with me the joys of Florida geography, barroom trivia (She is unbeatable on music from the 50's, 60's or 70's; I'm pretty good on Presidents that end with "..ington."), local live music of all genres, dancing to the incredible strains of the Florida Fish House Band, and the unconditional love of a neurotic Shi Tzu.
I taught three of Kate's granddaughters how to play the Famous Getman Three Game, and I taught Kate how people who grew up in Boston are in fact different from everyone else on this or any other planet.
Two very good years indeed.
Ain't life grand?
J
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