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It Sure Is

Four years ago, I made the decision to wake up in a different country each June 23. It was my way of celebrating my then newfound freedom. Peru. Spain. Dominican Republic. We've had some amazing trips together in this journey. This year, though, I will be waking on June 23 in Florida--on my way to New Hampshire for a week.

When I realized the date, I was struck with an odd combination of sadness and bliss and almost considered how I could wake up in Santo Domingo before flying to Boston. Then I realized that I don't have to do anything. It's the end of an era in my life, and it's the beginning of a new one.

This new one is so much better, and I was reminded of this again today.

I've been trying to get back into an exercise routine, and the goal right now is to DO something each day. For the last week and a half, I've been doing a circuit of 3 types of push ups, squats, pulses, mountain climbers, and burpees. Doing the exercises is not a big deal; doing them in front of my husband is another story. Seriously, the thought of pushing and pulling all my jiggly parts inadequately disguised in Spandex just made me cringe.

But I have a closet full of clothes that I really like and would like to wear again, so this morning, I jumped up and went through one circuit while he looked at the news on the tablet. When I got to the squats, he uttered his own blissful coos as he watched. I later found out that he snapped some photos of this as well, but please don't focus on that part.

Go back to the coos.

Contrast this with 10 years ago when I used to corral myself in the back room of the house and followed along with exercise videos. Even though I did my best to hide, my ex would find me and sit down to mock me. He critiqued my movements, pointing out when I was off time with the rest of the group on t.v. He picked apart the clothing I wore for being either too baggy or too revealing. He openly derided me for even trying to get my ample backside into some sort of shape.

Want to know why my husband is the man of my dreams?

He cooed today as I worked out and uttered exclamations I usually hear only in movies when a man is surprised to find out that the woman he's been chasing for the entire film finally takes off her shirt.

As if the sounds weren't enough, my dear husband then shouted, "esa culo...todo esa culo...es mia." (that ass...all of that ass...is MINE.)

It sure is.

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