I dug through my T-shirt drawer, and realized that I basically have a few dozen variations on a theme: I love Doctor Who, I love gaming, I love Star Trek, I love Game of Thrones, I like black T-shirts.
At the bottom of my drawer was one I haven’t worn in a long time: a green Stone Brewing Company T that I picked up earlier this year. I pulled it out and shook out the wrinkles. As I closed the closet door, I caught a glimpse of Anne, drying her hair in our bathroom.
I don’t know where the thought came from, but it sprung into my brain: I’m 40 years-old, and I met her when I was 23. I’ve known my wife for almost half of my life.
When she shut off the hairdryer, I voiced this thought to her.
“Wow. We’ve known each other for a long time,” she said.
“I’ve been thinking a lot recently about all the shit we endured when we were starting our life together, and how our kids are almost the same age we were when [shitbag ex-husband] put us all through that. I just can’t imagine being their age and having the strength to deal with that.”
She set the hairdryer down on the sink and looked at me. “Maybe if we had to deal with it alone, but we didn’t. We dealt with it together.”
“I love us so much,” I said.
“Me too.”
We finished getting ready, and headed out to our respective days. Hours later, we met up back at our house.
“I have no idea what do to for dinner,” I said. “Want to walk to the store and figure it out?”
“Sure!”
We held hands and walked to the store, catching each other up on the stuff we did during the day. When we got to the store, we decided on steaks with grilled asparagus and Caesar salad, bought the things we needed to make that happen, and took them home. I prepared the steaks and walked out to the patio to start the charcoal and mesquite wood in our barbecue. Marlowe followed me and sniffed around while I put newspaper into the charcoal chimney.
“This is not for dogs,” I said. She looked back at me as if to say, “everything is for dogs, dummy.”
I pet her head and she wagged her tail. Then she saw a squirrel on the wire and bounded across the yard to go bark at it. The squirrel scolded her, shaking its tail and generally being an asshole.
“One of these days she’s going to get you, squirrel,” I said, “and you’ll regret all the time you wasted teasing her from the safety of your telephone wire.”
I lit the charcoal and went back into the house.
“Do you want to watch a movie?” Anne asked me.
“Sure,” I said. “What do you want to watch?”
She got an impish look on her face and said, “Chupacabra vs. The Alamo.”
I’ve been in the mood for gritty 70s movies like French Connection or Marathon Man, so I hesitated a moment.
“Come on,” she said, “movies like this are my guilty pleasure!”
I laughed. “There is absolutely nothing guilty about your enjoyment of the SyFy originals, and I love how much you embrace their particular brand of cheese.”
Strangely, we’ve never watched either of my entries in this genre: Python or Deep Core, mostly because I don’t know if I could bear to watch myself in them.
I put the DVD into the player and pressed play. We sat next to each other on the couch and had a hell of a good time watching a pretty bad movie that was shot in Vancouver pretend it was in San Antonio. Spoiler alert: the Alamo doesn’t exactly fight the Chupacabras as much as Erik Estrada blows it up for some reason.
We ate our dinner, laughed like crazy and talked about it on Twitter (which was apparently as amusing to lots of other people as it was to us, because we were the only people on Twitter not talking about the basketball game).
While we got ready for bed, I looked at her in the bathroom mirror.
“That was really fun,” I said, around my toothbrush.
“Yeah, that was great,” she said.
“I love us.”
“Me too.”
Awww, you guys are so cute! I admire you as a step-parent. I”m one myself and became one rather young (met hubby at 22) and while his Ex isn’t as bad as the one you dealt with, it can be very trying at times. It’s great to see how happy you and your wife and kids are.
This sounds like what we call (at my house) a “Talking Heads” moment:
“You may tell yourself, this is not my beautiful house . . . “
Thank you for the cool post 🙂 It’s very awesome that there are couples like you two in the world and you are so happy together even after all these years.
Thank you again.
I have to put you on notice that I now have you filed as “that one guy @AnneWheaton’s riffs off all the time”.
Have you two considered approaching SyFy with a view to doing commentary tracks for their DVD releases? Because yes. Just yes.
D’awwww! All the feels. I’m so glad you two found each other and have found nerd support in each other. I’ve never had to deal with a horrible Ex, but I can imagine how hard it would be, especially when kids are involved. I hope you two have each other for the rest of time. You two are really an example to us all.
Such a lovely little story! I really like it when you write about such things! *sniff*
[beat]
Ehmm … I know that is probably not the reaction you wanted to hear, but: May I ask when you stopped with vegetarianism? Is there a story behind this? *blushing*
About a year ago, I realized that I hated food, I was hungry all the time, and I didn’t look forward to cooking at all.
I was vegetarian because I was concerned about my health and I didn’t want to support factory farms, so when I started feeling like I was mostly eating frozen food and bread, I did research to find out how I could get humanely, responsibly grown meats and things. It costs a bit more, and requires a little bit more work, but I’ve found a balance that makes me feel good.
Since I changed my diet to more omnivorous, I look forward to eating, I love cooking, I’ve lost a ton of weight I didn’t even know I was carrying around, I have more energy, and I’ve been able to build more muscle mass when I work out.
I never talked about being vegetarian because preachy people drive me crazy, and I never wanted to be one of those judgmental, holier-than-thou people. It was just a choice I made for myself, just like the choice to eat meat again was.
First Daww feels!
My wife and I like to do this for some of our date nights. Her love of cheese movies is epic. Jesus Christ Vampire hunter, The Apple, Manos, etc. But there is something really nice about a night in. Not a normal work day make dinner eat sleep, but a that fun bonding moment that even after of years of being together is nice. To see that others do the same is great to see.
As for the change of diet it. I think it is interesting how defensive or trollish people get about it. Now yes we are on the interwebs talking about it but even in person. If you eat meat cool. If you don’t just a s cool as long as you are not hurting yourself and pushing your view on others folks shouldn’t care. For me food being fresh is very important. For me I have noticed that eating things I cook and know where they are from make me feel better. I am not is the best shape (overweight yes I need to work out more), but since cutting out junk foods I have been losing weight. I could never be a vegetarian or on an atkins like diet but that is just me.
Oh and beer is a must in any diet! mmmm beer
Oh, sorry, I didn’t want to troll, I was just genuinely interested. Cheers!
Thanks, Wil, for answering! That does totally make sense to me. 🙂
awwww!
I’m just glad to hear the house didn’t burn down since you had lit the charcoal and then went in the house to watch a movie. Just sayin’…only you can prevent forest fires. Oh, and safety first Mr. Wheaton 😀
I had the same thought but you beat me to it
Did you make the title because of the song “you are my home”? I totally love that song and sing it to my husband all the time. I wanted to put it on a playlist for my future whovian, but sadly I can’t buy it in Canada.
I love reading about you and Anne
No, it’s a Boingo song from the 80s.
Good to know I’m not crazy for immediately thinking of the Boingo song. Thanks for the story; may things never explode in your face. 😉
This is why I missed WWdN when Life and Other Things (TM) took over. I need to get back here more often 😀
I think it’s stuff like this that makes your fans feel like they really “know” you. Granted, we don’t actually know Wil The-everyday-person(TM), but this at least shows us that he exists.
I love when you write about these things, it reminds me to appreciate all that I’ve got.
It also makes me think that if I ever meet Wil The-everyday-person(TM) in the wild (ie non-con) that maybe I’d have enough appreciation for him that I would keep my inner fanboy contained, limit it to a smile and nod, and actually be content with that without the need to inject myself into his day.
That’s what I hope I’d be like….as opposed to the much more likely omgimyourbiggestfanletsbebestfriends!
Great story.. My husband and I have been together half our lives also it’s a neat moment when you realize that.
Also Python is in my top 5 best movies of all time, I like Anne have a special place in my heart for mutant animal movies.
You captured the little things that would be inconsequential to almost anyone else very well here. They’re important because they’re central to the universe you two have created. Thanks for sharing a glimpse of it.
This was a great post. It brought some nice feels into my day. You are lucky to have found someone that accepts you, and that you accept for the way you are. That sounds like a great way to spend the evening.
Best quote from your twitter feed and Facebook feed last night:
“Chupacabra vs the Alamo is still a better love story than Twilight”
I totally “get” your conversation with Ann. My husband and I are blessed to be this close as well. It really is awesome to be married to your best friend.
Congratulations!
This morning as I was reading yours and Anne’s comments on the movie on Twitter, I thought: “I wish everyone could be happy in love like Anne and Wil. They’re so beautiful together.” 🙂 Then you go and post this, you In-Love-Guy. I love it.
*your (argh)
Awwww…the feels. Posts like this are so great because they really do give your fans a glimpse into the “real” Wil Wheaton. And I must say, the great relationship you and Anne have come through not only here but on Twitter as well- which is why you two are among my favorite accounts to follow. And, I can only hope to one day have a relationship like you two share.
Glad to know it’s so much better on the other side of the ex-spouse custody mess.
(I was hoping it was, but seeing confirmation is…needed & appreciated today.)
Great recap and I liked it very much, but now the doctor says because I read this I got the DIABEETUS. It’s okay though, it still was well written, not on the level of Chupacabra vs. The Alamo, but still an interesting read.
Black is feeling under-appreciated.
I was going to ask about the vegetarian thing too — not that it is any of my business or has any effect on me.
I’ve been vegetarian before. I went for three years in high school and early college. But I find it too inconvenient in my adult life.
What a lovely evening! We sat on the sofa and watched an old W.C. Fields movie last night. Lots of laughter and fun. Thanks for giving us a little peek into your real life. Also, may I steal your line? “I love us” too – we’ve been together almost as long as you and Anne have. There is an Evil Ex involved, but thankfully the children are grown and now we’re trying to keep count of all the grandchildren!
I love that you are a nice, normal guy with the capacity to reflect on all you have to be thankful for. You have so many fantastic experiences and your interests are fun and clever and you keep creating more and more entertainment that has your fans glued to whatever you are putting out into the world.
How did you keep yourself from turning into a preachy narcisist (sp?) like so many other stars living in California? We roll our eyes at them when they tell us all the right way to live our lives from their plastic high horse. But we know that they were made that way from being told how perfect they are no matter what from the time they did their first child commercial. You are told the same things (see above paragraph) because they are true! But you never get a fat head. How do you stay so real?
To Quote:
——————————————————————————————————
She got an impish look on her face and said, “Chupacabra vs. The Alamo.”
I’ve been in the mood for gritty 70s movies like French Connection or Marathon Man, so I hesitated a moment.
“Come on,” she said, “movies like this are my guilty pleasure!”
——————————————————————————————————
…You just described Noelle and I to a tee. One day we’ll get to meet you two and my life will be complete!
A lot of people would say, “I envy you your charmed life” but I understand full well, (through experience), what kind of life-crap one must go through to achieve this level of wisdom and marital bliss.
Today is our 10th wedding anniversary and it makes me happy to see that the concept of a good marriage isn’t dead.
Happy Friday and thanks for the cheese.
Wil…what’s a DVD? 😀
Oh and super awesome story about you and Anne. Love hearing all about your daily adventures, keeps both myself and my wife entertained (and a bit jealous) daily.
Live long and together…just make sure you don’t both grow beards.
My Mister and I had similar feels yesterday. We commented to each other that we are only a tic older than you, but our daughter is only 5, and how did you that?
Best to you and Anne. Thank you for sharing yourself with us.
Thanks for sharing, Wil. This is an awesome story, and even if it wasn’t true, it would still be awesome.
Reading your posts about Anne and your life always reminds me a bit to Cheers when Norm tells Sam that keep talking about his love life so that they can live that life through that, which they couldn’t have themselves. You are a lucky guy who also worked, works hard and lives a life many of us secretly or openly wants to have and enjoys the goodies on the way.
Again, thanks for sharing and keep being awesome.
PS. say hi to Anne and your beautiful family for us fans.
Cheers,
T
My husband and I just celebrated our 3rd anniversary. We’ve been together for almost 9 years. I love our life together and I hope that we’re just as happy as you and Anne are when we’re in our 40s and beyond.
This post makes me happy. I am really proud that my marriage of 19 years sounds very much like this. If Dr Phil spent less time yakking at families and just showed them endless video of how normal people like you and Anne go about a normal day, how they talk to each other, how they treat each other, how they work together, how they make each other happy, well, he would have a very dull show but his “patients” would have a way cheaper therapy.
I love your family stories. Ten years ago you would have had steaks with pork and beans and pineapple.
Lovely.
You two were lucky to find each other and you were smart to hang on during the rough times. I hope you are blessed with many, many more good dinners, sweet times, and weird movies.
I love when other people not only share what is good about life, but that they actually enjoy and appreciate it. So few people get to really find another person that is right for their soul. I’ve seen so many marriages that were smiley outside and a pure sham on the inside because neither person appreciated the other; it’s usually all about them and what they perceive was “done” to them by their spouse. It wasn’t until I started watching Oprah as a grown up that I realized the amount of dysfunction I grew up in, but once I did and realized I didn’t want it in my life I stopped attracting horrible relationships me. While you may have walked out of the STNG world, you sure made up for it by being someone your wife could depend on in her time of need. What a beautiful balancing of life. Isn’t that what we should all desire? A balanced life? One where we can look outside the window, notice the beauty of the world around us and the beauty of the people around us? That, my friend, is nirvana. I’m going to shoot for that in my next life. 😀
The epitome of a great relationship. Great example of the Peter Principal. Once you give up 1%, the rest is just slippery slope.
I would love to hear what Anne “saw in you” back thenwhen you got to know eachother. And I don’t mean that in a negative way like “how could she” :). The thing is: you often talk about yourself back then and how you see your old self now and how you saw yourself back then. I’d would be lovely to hear how somebody else saw you, especially somebody who knows you so well now and got to know you really well back then.
Anyways, congratulations for being an awesome couple. I see may parents (married for 43 years) and remember my grandparents (who had been married for 70 years in the end), and wonder how they got there. Watching you two is a hint 🙂
By the time I met Anne, I’d grown out of the angry teenager phase and was in the early 20s “learning as much as I can about the world and myself” phase.
To say that I find the tweets between you and Anne (and the occasional input by Ryan and/or Nolan) amusing is a considerable understatement. I can’t tell you how many crappyish days have been made so much better by essentially eavesdropping on you poking fun at each other or livetweeting some random happenstance or other. So for that, thank you.
Thanks for letting us into your world. It is nice to read that there are great couples out there like us. 🙂
Great post, nice to see healthy relationship and mutual respect lived out. This made me smile and reflect on my own marriage, all the trials and triumphs my wife and I have gone through… now if I could only get my wife to like trashy movies as well…
After having an acquaintance rant at me over and over again last night that my marriage is probably going to fail because “50% of all marriages end in divorce,” this is exactly what I needed to read. I’ve never expected my marriage to fail, but I love reading stories of marriages that are succeeding so well. I’ll be doing the same kinds of things with my wife in 10 years (when I’m 40), and I love the life that we are building together. I love that you share things like this – such a simple sentiment, but one that we so rarely hear. Thank you.
Aw, you guys are super cute. I was talking with my husband the other day… probably also brushing my teeth and I told him that in just 5 years, I will have been with him longer than I will have been without him. We met when I was 18 and he was 24, started dating at 20 and 26. By the time the twins are born this fall it will be the 16 year anniversary of our first date. So much time flying. So much math. : D
My next door neighbours are a retired couple well into their 70 and when they go out, they always hold hands. That always puts a huge smile on my face.