You were expecting her to have legs, weren't you?

 

When I first saw this, I was startled. She is a close friend of mine and I can attest that she does have them. Two in fact. Where they are in this photograph still baffles me.

 

There is a part of me that likes to have things turn out the way I expected. There are songs I feel confident will be part of the Tableaux service I sing in each Christmas. Familiar feels cozy, like when I reach in the popcorn tins where I store ornaments. I know what to expect. I hung them on my tree last year, and the year before, and the year before that. But I still love them. I cannot picture taking one of the little wooden stars John cut with the boys two decades ago and saying, "This old thing? I have seen it before."

 

But the unexpected is wonderful too. I don't suppose I would enjoy Christmas morning quite as much if my gift bags always held a scarf and a good book.... the same book and scarf. It is exciting to not know what will appear when I reach in the bag. I cannot be sure I could respond with genuine enthusiasm. "You got me this book last year, too! And I have a scarf just like this! Thanks, honey!"

 

We are an interesting mix, wanting the expected, along with the unexpected. Perhaps it is a tad like the stripes on this tie. It could have been solid orange, or a completely black one. But the two colors work together, sharing the attention. 

I decided to surprise John, and created a treasure hunt date for him. I left little clues around the house for a week. There were numbers that could have been times, or dates, or addresses. There were directions, or rather pieces of them. There were a few objects that offered hints.

 

It was pretty fun to watch his reaction, which included intrigue. But there was one thing that was familiar. 

 

Me.

 

Photo by Chara Odhner

www.caringformarriage.org