The Simple Things

by Shannon Hunter

The best things in life are free. The best things in a relationship are often the simple things too. Earlier this week one of my best and most talented friends wrote a blog about the Top 5 Women to Watch in 2012 and she included me among some of the most talented women in Toronto; I was needless to say incredibly proud. So because Country Boy is the first person I call when I have good news and the first person I lean on when I’ve had a bad day I shot him a BBM to let him know. His response? “You’re on my list to watch ;)” That simple sentence was enough to keep me smiling all day long.

Long distance relationships are incredibly hard. Country Boy and I are not exactly long distance, but with him a 30 minute drive away we’re not exactly in a place to have random visits on a Tuesday night either. Everything has to be planned in advance. My job can be incredibly time-consuming and my social life doesn’t leave me with ample time on my hands. Country Boy plays hockey three times a week and has a work schedule that often sends him to remote locations across the country. Because we’re both busy young professionals, it’s often the simple things that keep us going.

This weekend he’s off ice fishing, which I find incredibly sexy because I’m totally wrapped up in his rugged hunting, fishing, and hockey playing country self. So, I’ve promised to check in and send warming and somewhat salacious photos so he knows I’m thinking about him. To be honest, I haven’t stopped thinking about him since October, so it’s really not too difficult to remind him that I’m sending good thoughts his way. 

When you’re trying to fight distance anything can become a cute habit, a sweet reminder, that even if you’re alone on a cold winter night, you’re not really alone. Because we’re both so busy one or both of us often can’t find time to watch our precious Leafs when they are playing so we text each other game updates when we can’t watch together or simply don’t have time to sit in front of a screen for two and a half hours watching them fight for their 2012 playoff spot. Those sweet texts are my favourite part of the week. They make me feel like he’s always thinking about me, and when it’s my turn to keep him in the loop I feel important and needed – which is a great feeling.

I love that he thinks I’m sexy, I love that he can’t get enough of me (even if I don’t understand why) but when he needs me, when he tells me that I’m smart, when he reminds me that there’s more to me than a great rack; that’s when I’m most happy. Because it’s the simple things that make the butterflies do their fluttery dance.

Image courtesy of Microsoft Office.