Day 82.

Dear New Husband,

Now we can say we've done everything. We have eaten steak and sushi in Central Asia. And after dinner we had ice cream and saw a statue of Lenin. 

Do you realize how nutso and fortunate our lives are? I mean really. Not many people have gotten to see the things we have seen and experience all we have gotten to experience. I hope we are continually grateful and never take for granted the fortunate jobs we have that we get to travel and see what life is like in different parts of the world. Especially how superior ice cream is here and Turkey. Move over Blue Bell. . . Well. Almost move over Blue Bell.  It might be blasphemy to say any ice cream is superior to Blue Bell. I think the Blue Bell milkmaid will now sic her cow on me to strike me dead.

I love you,

Your New Wife who is now terrified a milk cow may charge at random.

Day 81.

Dear New Husband,

I am finally feeling almost stable. And our time here is coming to a close. Rats. I hate that I got sick and had to miss out on some experiences that you got to enjoy. But, I'm so glad you're here to enjoy and see these experiences. Especially the experience of whatever illness we had. 

Marriage high five. 

But seriously, seeing you make observations through a social work lens makes me so proud of you. I know that you as an engineer can have a hard time looking through that lens, but I always appreciate the effort and observations you make. Usually because you're so smart that they are spot on. What the heck is that?!

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 80.

Dear New Husband,

Well. Whatever got you sick was not the food. Because you so graciously gave it to me. Viva la virus!

Thank you for continually being my caretaker. Even when I almost vomit on your side of the twin bed.

I love you,
Your New Sickly Wife.

Day 79.

Dear New Husband,

First day of work! First day of work! First day of work!

Again, I'm just learning so much here. Especially about how things translate from their beautiful, pristine development in a classroom or in an office and how that translates into the mess that is real life. 

Also. . . Why is it so hot here?! I really feel like I could reach up and hug the sun. But I'm thankful to sit under a shaded apricot tree, eat dinner with everyone and laugh at baby Maggie as she shoves various food items in her ears. I'm so glad you're feeling better, but so bummed you missed out on ice cream this time around. I know that is your most favorite of treats, so I'll try to keep it to myself about how delicious it was.

I love you,

Your New Wife. Who thinks the ice cream was okay. . . But secretly thinks it is the best thing ever.

Day 78.

Dear New Husband,

Well. You're sick. Its nice having the tables turned for once. Now before you think I'm the 2nd most heartless woman on the planet [Behind Jezebel. Home girl totally gets top billing], its nice that I get to take care of you for once. You're always taking care of me, and it is so refreshing that I get to take care of you!

I feel like I need to log some caretaker hours for all the ones that you have logged.

Despite you falling ill, I enjoyed our time together. Getting to spend time with ex-pats here, hearing them tell about what life looks like here - I love refreshing honesty and vulnerability. And, seeing what a Chinese shopping mall looks like. I know you didn't get to see it, but its so fascinating - seeing how someone had a dream to make something successful and it didn't work out. . . Okay that's really depressing upon further reflection, but your weirdo wife found it interesting.

I love you,

Your New Wife who should've studied cultural anthropology.

Day 77.

Dear New Husband,

Isn't it so exciting to see what love and money can do? Watching all of those kiddos climb around on a playground just makes you want to stand up to lions of injustice everywhere. But not until we have a crepe stuffed with potatoes. And a side of orange Fanta. Both necessities.

Seeing your kindness towards kids is just a small reminder of why I love you. And in 10 years when we have our own littles, I'm excited that they will have you to look up to. Mainly because I expect them to get my height.

Thanks for finally coming around that Friends is funny, but I know you need dude time. So I appreciate you going and watching some NBA with Forrest, while I ate peanut M&M's with Jenn and Emily. Despite us spending wonderful quality time together, we both need our 'gender' time. I'm so glad you understand that and don't think its weird. Or make jokes about us pillow fighting. Thanks for not being misogynistic.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 76.

Dear New Husband,

Well. We successfully survived a domestic flight in a foreign country. Remember how I was saying how nice it was to not have as high security here as we do in the States?

I take it all back. I don't mind taking off my shoes in security anymore. I surrender. But I have to say, I did a great job pushing all of us to the front of the line - despite being an obedient white girl from the suburbs of Oklahoma.

Thank you for your adventurous spirit, and for helping me push two twin beds together. 

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 75.

Dear New Husband,

We went to a bazaar, worked on work, ate dinner at a western cafe known as the Obama Bar & Grill (We seriously could never make this stuff up. Truth is stranger than fiction. . . But I seriously wonder if Obama knows it exists), and piled into a taxi. Plus I got to see you sweat your pores out from eating severely spicy Chinese food. 

You are so funnies.

What a full day we have had, and yet it has been so relaxing. I credit that to my bag finally showing up today. Its like a a soothing aftershave, nice calming and balmy. But thanks for not being an ugly American tourist. And for being the kind of guy that likes random public transit as much as I do.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 74.

Dear New Husband,

Jet lag is the worst. We're 11 hours ahead of home, our flight came in at 3 am - which is really 3 pm at home, and my luggage is MIA. But we're still married and we're here safely. So we have that going for us.

Even though we slept in two separate twin beds a la Cleaver style, I'm still glad we get to be married. Waaaaay better than being on this trip not married. Plus we wouldn't be sharing a room. Drag.

I enjoyed getting to walk around the streets of this city with you and our trusty translators. Seeing a whole different world and what the remnants of oppression look like in a city - its incredible. I'm glad you get to see this with your own eyes, rather than have me explain. Because we get to share in this. Plus I'm super bad at describing things. 

Also, getting pseudo lost was pretty hilarious. At least in hindsight.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 73.

Dear New Husband,

Well. We're sitting in the Paris airport. And I literally have no idea what day/time it is. I think its Tuesday morning? At least I think it is because thats when our flight from Paris to Istanbul leaves. But I'm already tired of airplane food and the lack of airplane room. I have been assured I will love Turkish Airlines and will have more room, comfort and entertainment than a heart can hold. Fingers crossed.

Thanks for buying me expensive airport frozen yogurt, for being okay with major hustling around Charles de Gaulle airport, for being the best, and an experienced traveler. Because I don't think I could do this trip with someone who doesn't know anything about international travel. I would have to be the sane one and we both know how unfortunate that can be.

I love you,

Your New and Extremely Tired Wife.

Day 72.

Dear New Husband,

Tomorrow, we will have been married longer than Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. And to celebrate, we'll be in confusing time zone/jet lag land/on one of 4 airplanes. Tiger pump.

Despite us traveling for basically two days in about 4 hours, you got up and got me a breakfast sandwich and a coffee. What the heck?! You are the best ever. And I truly appreciate it. I hope I never unappreciate it - or whatever the appropriate English word is for unappreciate. . . Devalue? Lazy?

Not excited for all these flights we have today. Not excited for jet lag. But excited to see a different world with you. And to hit up Paris on the way back. I mean, lets be honest. I'm excited for our trip and us doing work for our organization, but I'm excited to see a city that I've been longing to see since seeing Funny Face and Sabrina in my formidable years.

I love you,

Your New Wife. Who loves her New Husband and breakfast sandwiches.

Day 71.

Dear New Husband,

This is it! We are wheels up tomorrow. . . Oh gosh. What an obnoxious phrase. Forgive me for saying that.

But thank you for your continued help with herding all the cats we have to go to on our exciting voyage. You continually pull your weight way better than me and are extremely helpful. I'm going to be bold and say that's because I had way more to pack than you did. Yeah. Thats it. . . Just let me have this one.

Excited to see what this trip holds and excited that I get to share this journey and so many more with you.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 70.

Dear New Husband,

What a day of herding cats. Well, not really herding cats - we're not taking cats with us on our trip. Because that'd just be silly. And I'm allergic. But figuring out how to organize the circus of things we need for ourselves and things we've been requested to bring has been a little WOOF. 

However, ending the evening with a Mat Kearney concert after meeting him (What the heck?!) was awesome. We are so blessed by friends. And you did so great meeting him. You thought you were just going to stay back in the corner, sipping on your Dos Equis like the Most Interesting Man in the World. But you actually spoke with him! You said "I really like your music." I was there! I heard it!! But what we really should've said was "We played one of your songs at our wedding" and then he would've totally done a shout out to us. At least we're delusional enough to believe that.

Thank you for being able to still love me despite the grumpies and anxieties. You're the best. Around. Nothing's ever gonna keep you down!. . . Karate Kid moment. You feelin' that jam? Well, you're probably not feelin' that jam because you're pretty much asleep.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 69.

Dear New Husband,

As always, what a great evening! Except, what the heck Studio Movie Grill with the reserved seating? We grumbled how we are poor and that they should limit reserved seating for big movies, i.e. the one we saw The Avengers. But seriously. Too many reserved seats. But it doesn't matter, now, I guess. We saw the movie, from a comfortable distance - meaning no front row shenanigans. And, we had dinner. Mission: Accomplished.

And! We come home to discover that Iron Man 2 is streaming on Netflix. As the only superhero movie we had seen out of The Avengers was the first Iron Man, it was a very exciting moment. So exciting, I fell right asleep. So thanks for always sitting on the couch with my legs draped over you; that you don't fuss that I fall right asleep any time I reach peak comfortable-ness. Its an ability I am proud of, but it is definitely not cohesive to quality time with you.

Thank you, again, for a mini date night. I love being your wife and the lady you take places!

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 68.

Dear New Husband,

Here we are. Ripping our DVDs to your laptop, putting books on tape on to our iTunes, me editing out the music on my phone so I can add movies to it - we must be getting ready to travel soon! Its so exciting that in 3 days, we jet off for an adventure for 2 and a half weeks. I mean, I can't even comprehend that. 

I think it shows that I can't even comprehend that because I haven't packed. Whoops. Oh well. That's what Saturdays are for. Right? Right.

But I appreciate your willingness to peruse the library, searching for books and things to keep us preoccupied on the THREE DAYS OF TRAVEL IT TAKES TO GET THERE. Sheesh. Why is the United States so far. I'm still not sure how I'll work out these letters when I lose about a day and a half from traveling. I know you'll understand, because that's who you are. And well, you don't really have a choice; but thanks for being you anyway - for being the man that doesn't flap easily. . . That's unflappable, right?

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 67.

Dear New Husband,

Rangers win!!! Dollar hot dogs!!! Yu Darvish pitched and they played the intro to Soulja Boy which I felt was way more clever than everyone else did!!! We got our tickets before we knew Darvish was pitching so got them at a third of the price as everyone else!!! Awkward couple next to us on their first date!!! Gary Sinise throwing a really terrible first pitch!!! Annoying people behind us spouting stats like they know!!! We're still married!!!

As we speculated about what date the couple next to us was on, upon further awkward reflection/creeping we realized it was their first, we talked about how there isn't that rush of new-ness and excitement that comes with a budding relationship. Sometimes I miss that, but I would never trade it for the hilarity of shared memories, the penny pinching of only coming on dollar hot dog night, or the sweetness of sharing a bag of kettle corn at a ball game. 

Plus, with the new perspective of marriage, why would anyone want to date? Someone drives you everywhere and buys you snacks? Pass. So thanks for taking me out of that game and for continually taking me to Ranger games (I thought that was a wonderful segue-way. If you think so too, give me a high five after you read this).

I love YU,

YUr New Wife (Seriously. The Yu puns are killing me. Expect more. Sorry I'm not sorry)

Day 66.

Dear New Husband,

You went and played intramural basketball. I stayed home and realized that I didn't put in a decent enough request for things I needed you to pick up from the grocery store on your way home from work. Rats.

And then I realized I had neglected a project for one of my friends that was due about 2 weeks ago. Double rats.

Thanks for helping bail me out of both binds, and for agreeing that I could overnight what I needed to, to my friend so I redeem some of the awfulness that I have incurred upon myself. You are getting to know me so in well in that I hate unfinished things. I am a incredible project person and get so mad at myself when I do stuff like this. 

How could I not notice the recipe called for sesame oil?! What made me think we had that around the house?! What a weirdo. And thanks for not being too upset that it tasted so bland. I feel like I put in enough oil to make Paula Deen say "Hey now, y'all. Maybe you should rethink your life choices" and yet nothing. Oh well. I'll make it again (Because hey, I'm not letting that sesame oil go to waste) and make it better. Because that's who I am: Determined not to have any kind of blemish on my permanent record.

What a looney.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 65.

Dear New Husband,

What a nice evening we have had. Fetching/researching items to take with us on our big trip in a week, dancing the Harvard baseball team dance to "Call Me Maybe" in the car, discovering how eBooks can be checked out from the library (I'm still confused), dreaming and looking through Paris travel books thinking of the places we want to go in just 3 very short days there, and remembering that Sonic has half price milkshakes after 8 pm. Which basically spells trouble for us, as there is a nightmarishly close Sonic to our apartment. Large, protruding bellies and haunches trouble.

But its nice that I am finally to some semblance of well, and we can resume our regular marriage activities. Including a food festival this weekend. What better way to celebrate our last few days in America for a couple of weeks than to gorge on food? Viva la 'Merica, y'all.

So thankful for you, for the person you are, for the open-mindedness and values you hold. I'm incredibly relieved that I married someone who loves people and sees them as valuable in the way that I do. Thanks for coming on this journey with me.

Though I'm not sure how I convinced you to bind your life with me. I'm sure Oreos were involved.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 64.

Dear New Husband,

Oh darling one. What a great day we have had together. Minus where I'm still sick and my medicine makes me feel like I had way too much to drink.

Side note: I haven't had way too much to drink. Just wanted to clarify. Be above reproach. Let you know that I'm not sneaking any sippies and refilling our wine bottles with juice.

But your constant patience to me falling asleep at random (And missing the whole middle of Invictus) my constant question of "Why am I siiiiiiiiiiiiiiiick?!" is so endearing. However, I would expect nothing less from you. So thank you for helping me clean up for my momma's visit today. And for being smart enough to keep up with a conversation about missing Biblical relics. Thanks for not being just good looks, but for having some brains up there too. 

I'm so glad that you're not just arm candy.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 63.

Dear New Husband,

Even though the Rangers could not pull out a win, I am still so glad I got to spend that time with you and my family. I love that you get to be a part of my family now. May be one of my favorite things about being married.

And I am overly thankful, yet again, that you take care of me. Even when I want to rid the Earth of all the plants that could possibly be causing whatever the heck I have, you say "There there" or something along those lines. Though I grow more and more concerned that you will catch whatever I have. Even though I'm pretty sure its allergies. But if you do get what I have, I will happily make you broth. Fetch you juice. . . But I'm staying away from your snotty t-shirt. You have a tolerance for snot that I don't understand. I don't even like my own. . . TMI?

I love you,
Your New Wife who is pretty sure she wants to incinerate cedar. Everywhere. Death.

Day 62.

Dear New Husband,

Welp. I'm still sick. You're still awesome.

The good news is that I feel the best I've felt since Monday. But I don't feel like that's really saying much.

Over and over, I'm seeing why its a complete bonus to be the youngest child married to the oldest child. You anticipate needs like no one else! And I have done my very best to ensure I'm not taking advantage of you. . . I think I've done a pretty good job. There were several times that I thought about asking you to buy me those fancy fruit popsicles (Or would they be considered fruit-sicles?) from the grocery store, but I refrained. 

But most importantly, I'm seeing the compassionate, tender-hearted man I fell in love with. Until we watch Mr. Brooks and you complain about the lack of justice and demand a different ending. Then again the movie is about a serial killer, so I feel its a little null at this point. I guess this is the part where I tell you that I was cheering for the serial killer the whole time. 

I can't help it. I'm the youngest, I always root for the underdog.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 61.

Dear New Husband,

Today is our two month anniversary! And I'm still sick. 

I appreciate your willingness to do 'whatever I wanted' for our two month anniversary. Despite what I really wanted was just a nap on the couch. So, we spent the evening eating burgers, watching an episode of Modern Family checking out movies from the library (And getting library cards! Yay yay yay! Few things I love more than the public library!), watching Indiana Jones & the Last Crusade and finally hanging up our psuedo headboard.

Well, you did all the grunt work for our psuedo headboard. I just cleaned the window and told you where the canvas my sister-in-law made needed to be straightened on top of the window. And voila!

. . . Apologies for the darkness, babe. The giant glare from our overhead light was just too much for me. So much so, I'm sorry we got in a mini tiff about it. But thank you for a sweet two months in which we're continually discovering how type A and demanding we both are. . . That was supposed to come out as a compliment, but I don't think it translated well. I hope you know what I mean - in that we're both realizing how imperfect we are and how we can best meet in the middle. Yeah. Yeah that's what I mean. Forget the first part.

11 more days and we will have been married longer than Kim Kardashian and Kris Humphries. Marriage high five.

I love you,

Your New Wife who is seriously competitive with celebrity marriages. Who knows.

Day 60.

Dear New Husband,

Day 2 of sickness. And yet again, no judgment passed for what I wipe snot up with. No judgment for the trashy tv I watch (Read: Nap) while recouping. No judgment for the fact that all I have really eaten today (Besides the 50% off pizza we had - Thanks Papa John's and thanks Rangers for scoring 7 or more runs!)  is Chips Ahoy! cookies and chicken broth. I swear, that stuff has some addictive chemical in it, potentially MSG, or it really actually has healing properties. One of the two. Or both.

I appreciate all the taking care of me that you do - not just when I'm sick, but always. But I really appreciate all the taking care of me that you're doing currently. I wish I could say that you're paying it forward, but we all know that you are never sick. And I seem to be constantly ailing from something. I'm sure up next will be consumption or typhoid; something to truly mix things up a bit. Because this snot/sore throat/sore ears business is getting old.

I love you,

Your New Wife who would've died super early on the real Oregon Trail. And died super early on the fake one too. Always of snake bites or dysentery. Bummer.

Day 59.

Dear New Husband,

I am currently writing this while you make me chicken broth and fill up my orange juice cup. I have no idea what I have, but I really hope I don't give it to you. I'm hoping its just allergies, but for now, we'll just call it "Mother Earth has it out for my sinuses." You laugh, but sista has had it out for me for a long time. She laid in wait. . . Okay, I'll stop there. I could write an over imaginative description of why plants have it out for me, but I already told you all of this.

Despite me feeling so terrible, I still went to my sewing class. And aren't you glad I did? Think of all the fun treats I could make for us now! Possibilities are endless.

Well, I'm getting overly sleepy and I'm excited for my chicken broth!. . . Oh gosh, I must be sick if that's one of the highlights of my day for me. Yikes.

I love you,

Your New Wife who is incredibly relieved that her New Husband kisses her when she has snot on her face. And shirt. And doesn't judge her for what mode she uses to wipe up her snot.

Day 58.

Dear New Husband,

After all of the mishaps I have had today, I hope you don't feel like you're babysitting without getting paid. But seriously, I'm not sure how I have made it this long in my life.

Returning our current apartment key in with my old apartment keys? Check.

Answering the front door to the pest control guy looking like a schlub? Check.

Slicing my finger open because I just had to have some cheese before I went to bed? Check.

At least I know that in 10 years, when we have kids, you'll be a great dad. 

So thanks for taking care of your wife who literally does not look before she leaps. I know I tend to hover on the Hermione Granger, Type A side of things, but sometimes things slip through the cracks. . . Or get in the way of my night cheese slicing. Stupid fingers.

I love you,

Your New Wife who becomes more and more similar to Liz Lemon with each passing day.

Day 57.

Dear New Husband,

What a wonderful day spent with friends. Hellooooo summer. Though neither of us get a summer with both of us working and attending higher education for the summer, its nice to pretend we still get some semblance of a summer. But I love our couple friends and how they make us feel less nuts. Then, we get to spend a slow evening together watching a movie and eating mac n' cheese. How cool is that?! Had I known that this is what marriage was like, I would've gotten married at 16. . . Actually, no. No I wouldn't have. But still, watching movies and eating - heaven. . . My Liz Lemon is showing.

I so enjoy spending time with you and with new friends; and that I get to brag on you and how awesome you are. Because you are. Duh. 

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 56.

Dear New Husband,

What began as a somewhat emotionally muddled day, filled with wondering what we're doing, ended so sweetly.

Its extremely life affirming to be around other couples and to realize that our struggles are normal; that the things we butt heads over and the things that make me want to eat gallons of ice cream, sob and watch Ice Castles, Gilmore Girls, Doctor Zhivago or The Two Towers are the same things other couples struggle with as well.

Even though we overbooked our evening scheduled, I'm glad we did it. I'm glad we got our wires crossed and over planned our evening; total grace gift to our marriage of realizing that we are never alone and are not meant to rely on ourselves for our marriage. Praise God for fellowshipping with other marrieds.

I love you,
Your New Wife who just realized there are no sweet treats in the house. Attica. Attica!

Day 55.

Dear New Husband,

Our apartment is finally coming together! And I have you to thank for that. Sure, I've done a few things here and there, but you put the curtains up! Plus, you made space in our closet to aid in helping our other closets that are absolutely bursting at the seams.

You know how much I hate clutter and you are doing your absolutely best to make sure that I am not so wound up; not a very delightful or easy task in the slightest. But you have worked so hard and didn't even make a sound when I dirtied up the kitchen, again, after you already cleaned it. But you have to admit, that bread and that dip were worth the pain. At least I hope so. They were good right? Right? Right?

I love you,

Your New Wife who is incredibly paranoid when she tries her hand at new recipes. 

Day 54.

Dear New Husband,

Watching you make fried chicken and figuring out how to make such a delicious, yet somehow inexplicably complicated, meal was so life affirming. In other words, as good at cooking as you are and as terrible at cooking as I am, even you get stumped sometimes; not gloating, just excited that we are still on the same cooking level in some respects - that there are still things that challenge you. By the way, adding chives to the mashed potatoes? Brilliant.

I missed you today and really enjoyed reflecting on your antics from this past week. For example, remember that time when you forgot that we lived together? Or remember that time that we forgot our free tickets to the movie last night? Or remember that time we ate dinner at the mall and you insisted on stopping for every free sample? Oh honey. You are the cutest. And most unintentionally funny person that I know.

I'm getting more and more excited that you get to travel with me in just a handful of weeks. New experiences and new worlds and new places that we get to experience as New Husband and Wife.

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 53.

Dear New Husband,

I'm so glad I have a man that doesn't look at me like I'm nuts when I say I want to eat Chick-fil-A and see a movie to celebrate me getting into an online class for the summer and being finished with my spring semester. So generous!

I was raised to celebrate little things, because that's what we get the most of. Big things come and we celebrate those too, but remembering the little things - that's what is important to me. So I'm so glad you see it as important too. 

And that you don't scold me for sneaking in my Diet Dr. Pepper into the movies. They don't have DDP there! Everyone knows that Diet Coke is second class to that sweet nectar. But I digress. I love getting to have these fun little times with you and that we are able to score free stuff do it!

I love you,

Your New Wife.

Day 52.

Dear New Husband,

Currently, I'm supposed to be writing a final paper on feminist theory and the dynamics between it and domestic and intimate partner violence. Instead I decided to write you this letter. . . This letter is to let you know that after almost 6 hours of working on said paper, I almost despair in humanity. 

But I feel extremely extremely blessed that I have a man that values me as a woman and as his partner in life. And a man who doesn't think I'm too Liberal and doesn't think my unending desire to see equal pay for women, longer maternity leave and longer/paid paternity leave and social justice for women everywhere is a pipe dream. You desire justice for those with little or no voice and you love people at their broken places, too; these are just some of the reasons I decided binding my life to yours was a pretty keen idea. This and the fact that you're unpacking boxes from my old apartment while I sit here and dawdle on the Internet.

So thank you for loving me as I am and showing me that I am enough. Thank for you always being proud of me and making my dreams, your dreams.

I love you,

Your New Wife.