The man I love

Every few months we go to Muncie to visit my very elderly grandparents. I have traveled the path between their house and mine so many times over my lifetime that I literally know every curve and bump in the road. My parents were always diligent about making sure we visited often. While I was a child, both sets of my grandparents lived there in Muncie. I have to say that, while I hold many fond memories of Muncie due to the loved ones who live there and the time we spent together there, aside from that, Muncie is really not that great of a place (except for this one AWESOME movie theater with reclining seats!). So the frequent trips there have offered little other reward (like great shopping or restaurants or parks).

Anyway, my one remaining set of grandparents, live in Muncie still. Jared has always been incredible at reminding me to call them regularly and even volunteering to take the inconvenient trips over there to visit. But he doesn't just stop there. Now before I go further, you have to understand this about Jared- he has a short string of patience- especially for the elderly. But somehow he has always had great patience for my grandparents. Perhaps it's because both sets of my grandparents have treated him more like a grandson than his own ever did. But the man has loyalty there (and therefore- great patience). In the same token that it melts your heart and grows your love when you see your spouse take great care and gentleness with your children, it melts my heart to see this man I love help my grandmother in and out of the car (nearly lifting her rather). And he does it while offering to do more. And he does it with a smile. And he is gentle. Each and EVERY visit goes exactly the same way. My grandmother is nearly deaf and therefore can't really hold any sort of conversation. And she is somewhat obsessed (to put it lightly) about the collections that run rampant through her home. We are happy to agree to the consistent invitations to go to lunch somewhere- and therefore get our little people's 40 little fingers away from her breakables. But it's not just somewhere- it's a quaint little ma & pop joint serving "old people" fare. And even knowing all of this, Jared reminds me to call and asks if it's time for us to go to Muncie again. I love this man.