Lighting his fire

Remember those things your parents did when you were a child that you never fully understood the purpose of, yet you acquired as your own adult habits? The husband and I brought entirely different traits to the table - all equally strange - but the difference is, his swirl around excessive paranoia safety, and mine are more reckless free-spirited.

In our house, the crock pot bubbled on all day while no one was home and the hairdryers, coffee pot, toaster and Christmas tree plugs remained in the sockets unless there was a reason to unplug them (reasons like we were moving). Mom was known to hang her hand out the driver's side window, crank up the Barry Manilow and drive like a bat out of hell somewhat briskly. Sorry, Mom. This is the truth circle.

The husband approaches life with a bit more caution. A baseball bat rests next to our newlywed bed, the door and stove are once, twice, thrice checked to ensure lockdown, cooled-off status at all times, the toaster and the electrical outlet only have very brief encounters. Once that bread pops out, the love affair is over and the 'spark' is gone.

I'll admit, I've had my fun with the husband on these matters. We're nestled into bed on a cold winter night and all seems content with the world around us. Faces are washed, teeth brushed, tasks finished for the day. Ready to rest with clear minds and prepared to face the day to come. I'll wait until he's juuust about asleep...

Me: Hey, you think the stove's on?
Him: (Sits straight up) It IS?
Me: Just wondering if you turned it off, not sure I did.

Evil? Yes. Entertaining? Definitely. And in the end, it always gives us both a good laugh. Today, I probably drive too fast with the music too loud and turn on the crockpot before I leave for the day. But I always unplug the toaster, I've started locking the door and know that marrying him was not only the smartest choice I've made, but the safest.