This is the post where I explain to you how marriage changes things. Because when you’re all giddy and engaged, people will look at you and say, “Oooh just wait.  Marriage makes things different.”

And they say it in a way that almost scares you, but you’re too blinded by your new ring to really care or think much about it. Except I did think about it. My best friends and I even discussed it regularly. “What could possibly change just because I’m getting married?,” we’d say with confusion.

And then one stormy Thursday morning, I finally got it.

And even in the midst of the misery of the situation, I knew I’d tell my favorite engaged people. Not to scare you. Not even to warn you, but more just to inform you. Like here it is.  It will happen – I’m pretty sure it’s inevitable, but what is not inevitable is how you react to it all.

Cue the huge burst of thunder I wake up to minutes before my alarm was supposed to go off.

Me: I don’t want to get up (said in a whinier voice than I can accurately type).

Ryan: Morning, Freckles.  (Yes, I’m obsessed with Lost, and yes, I want to be Kate, and yes, I asked Ryan to call me that.)

This should have been the start to a great morning with Ryan’s sweet greeting, but things took a turn for the not-so-blissful when I step out of bed to literally trip over his shoes, jeans, and shirt. Trying to ignore the amount of time I spent last night trying to pick everything up, I kept stumbling into the kitchen to make my lunch.

Because Ryan had to work late, I was already asleep when he came home. Unfortunately for both of us, I’m apparently perfectly capable of having a conversation in my sleep.  The unfortunate part is that I NEVER remember it happening.  So last night Ryan told me he hadn’t gone to the store yet, but I have no recollection of this conversation, and in my less than pleasant rainy morning mood, I proceed back to the bedroom (stepping over his pile of clothes this time) to wake him up. Now right there is the first mistake. Who wants to be woken up when it’s raining outside?  NO ONE.  So now let’s add that I’m not waking him up with breakfast in bed (WE MISS YOU, HONEYMOON!!!), but rather to complain about clothes on the floors and turkey missing from the fridge.

Ryan was nice enough, but obviously slightly annoyed. So I leave for work and decide to apologize and then the following conversation happened leading me to realize THIS is what people mean when they say marriage changes things…

Me: I’m sorry I woke you up to complain.  I love you and really wish I was still in bed with you so bad.

Ryan: Me too. Side note – you left every light in the house on when you left. Let’s try not to do that anymore, okay?

SIDE NOTES are the death of a marriage.

Come back next week for my thoughts on how to fix this/prevent it/not want to strangle each other over clothes on the floors and lights left on.

Side note:  I get scared easily and lots of lights on make me feel safe.