1st down and a Happy 16th Anniversary!

My husband and I will be celebrating our 16th anniversary this week.  It's one of those "wow" moments where you feel like it couldn't possibly be that long but on the flipside feel like it's been forever.

Ever since we have been married my husband, born and raised in Ann Arbor, has been a University of Michigan football fan.  He also roots for the Lions and their track record is less than stellar but he's still a supporter through all the grumbles, groans, screams and frustration.  U of M has had its share of screaming at the TV moments in the last couple of weeks as well.

I always wondered why someone would tune in week after week, game after game, when it seemed like all it brought was lots of frustration, aggravation and considerable screaming. What joy is there to be had in that?

It dawned on me that I am like one of those teams to Jim.  Just six years into our marriage the MS symptoms started.  There were moments of not being able to walk much at all, lack of sensation down the entire right side of my body, loss of vision in one eye, cognitive decline, intense fatigue and on and on and on.  All of the ongoing symptoms and tests cause frustration that seems to not end, frustration for both of us.

I remain like those teams, though.  Faithfully being tuned in to, cheering with the victories and being supported no matter what.  I fumble and he curses the MS and then picks me up.  I speak in a jumbled mess and he quickly rewinds for the instant replay to make sense of what happened.  The fatigue beats me down and he calls for someone to fill in so I can take a rest.

He's like my coach and I want to do the best for him, too.  Its hard for me when I have a rough day because I know that causes him to struggle.  I know that a coach without a team is nothing and a team without a coach is nothing.  Thanks for being my coach for the last 16 years, Jim!