Happy accidents

 This weekend was full, and happy.  

Doug and Jen picked me up Saturday morning and we hit the road to do leaf peeping and get out of the house. Our plan was vague, except we were heading out to Woodstock Connecticut.  We ended up at a breakfast place that we randomly picked out of desperation because we were hungry, and now i think it will be a regular for me.  It's in Canton and it was delightful.  When we pulled in there was  a huge happy Budha, and i took that as a good sign.  

I was right.  Seasonal, farm to table food at pretty decent prices.  The place is private, not a chain, and has the owners action figure collection all over the wall - along with local art work, and even a "take a book" shelf filled with books for kids and adults alike.

It felt like we were eating at a friends house.  I love places like that. We were off to a great start.

We ended up at a few cool places, and i took a crazy amount of pictures. Of flowers.  I know, i can't really recognize myself either.  But i had to.  They were gorgeous.  We went to a pink gothic revival house, can't remember the town, but it was "out there" in the boonies for sure.  Beautiful.  We did't go on the tour, but spent a lot of time walking around the outside and enjoying the scenery.

Perfectly New England.  It's what we are known for, and yet, rarely remember to enjoy since we see it all the time.

Back to the house for crockpot missippi pot roast and mashed potatoes - along with homemade sourdough bread  that Kate, their daughter made for us.  She also sent me some sour dough starter since mine just doesn't seem to be happening.  We ate, and we then reclined in front of the televison with Doug on the remote, and Jen and I chatting and scrolling our phones.

Not exciting, yet my second favorite part of hanging out with them.  Because it's home.  it's not guests.  

Then another friend dropped by, thinking we were having fun without her, and got a taste of how boring we probably are to everyone else.  Jen went to bed, I fell asleep on the couch and when i woke up Doug was telling me to go to bed, and the added friend had vacated the premises.

Next morning, I got up and made coffee in the dark, and sat quietly with Jen in the dark scrolling our phones quietly while Doug snored and farted on the couch....We all get up pretty early, and just sit quietly in each others presense waking up.  

That is my favorite part of hanging out with them.  

You don't do that with people you aren't close to.  

They left a few hours later, and i got ready to go out with Mister for the day.  We went to Hartford Rose Garden and walked while i took pictures again......of lots of flowers.  We joked around and had fun, even took a video of ourselves so i can extract frames for funny pictures.

Watching the video i look happy.  And funny.  like i'm having fun posing him, and playing around like kids.

He wrote me a poem. and he brought me Munsons Chocolates.  I mean.........I have no words.

He didn't expect me to make him read it out loud.  But he happily did so, and yes, it made me feel something akin to being valued, and thought about.  It was quite specific to me.  And he had zero embarrassment about presenting it to me.  

He took me out to lunch, and we headed back to my place because by that time, i was needing some quiet time, and a nap.  I invited him  to watch a scary movie with me and told him i very well may miss it because i was sleepy.  We took off our shoes and socks and piled warm blankets on my dual recliners and started the movie.  It was SO good and we didn't miss any of it.

I invited him to the Friendsgiving for Shenanigans that i'm hosting this year, and he confirmed he will attend this morning.  He invited me to go to NY to see his best friend, so i can meet him.

All as friends.

There is still no kissy face, no sexual contact and no promise of it every being anything more than it is at this moment.

I'm slowly becoming used to not touching his car door handle.  Of having someone make the plans, and integrate what i think i want to do into the plans with no fuss. Of having someone care, and maintain control over his own wants because he's actually listening to my needs at this time.

I'm going slow, and every  time i jump ahead i remind myself to enjoy this period for what it is.  How relationships that last are supposed to start.  By knowing each other and appreciating it.

Even if Mister and I don't make it, i am learning what it's supposed to be like.