The Nest

City Mouse, Country Mouse

Posted Wednesday, May 21, 2008 10:48 AM

Remeber that story from childhood? The city mouse goes to visit the country mouse and learns all sorts of new things. My DH is the Country Mouse and I'm the City Mouse along for the ride.

Yesterday was our anniversary. 2 whole years already! Hard to believe! Over dinner, we started talking about how we are kind of an unlikely pair but it just seems to work for us. The key for us is to remain open-minded and to squash those feelings about how "we" (we being our own families when we were growing up) do it the right way that sometimes bubble up. Compromise and communication. A sense of adventure and the willingness to try new things. This is what makes this Country Mouse/City Mouse scenario work for us.

As the City Mouse in this relationship (well, I guess it would be Suburban Mouse who visited the City on weekends, holidays, or other special occasions, if you want to get technical.) I have had the opportunity to experience things I probably never would have if I hadn't met DH. Things like...

The sights, sounds (and smells...lol!) of a real working dairy farm. Riding a four wheeler. Hunting. Coyotes. Small town politics. Corn stalks a head taller than I am. Bon fires. Farm pond fishing. Sitting in the buddy seat on a brand new Deere tractor. Pick up trucks. Mud boots. Cover-alls. Pets that live exclusively outside. Gravel roads. Night skys that are so bright with the moon and stars you still cast a shadow. People I've never met who know my name.

It's all great! I'm a country girl at heart, DH always says. I think he may be right. Maybe I was in a former life. DH is still getting used to a few of his new experiences. Traffic. Tolls. Large crowds. Long lines. Strangers. Really big malls. Expensive restaurants. He's getting there though! Just ask him, the long weekend we spent in the city last September was the best time he'd had since our honeymoon! I told him...see, the city is not so bad! :)

A comparison:

Hometown population - Me: about 50,000 in my actual town, Millions in the Chicagoland area. DH: 1200

Number of graduating seniors in the class of 2000 - Me: 575. DH: 29

Favorite childhood activity: Me: riding bikes in the driveway and in the cul-da-sac. DH: riding dirt bikes in pastures.

Began learning to drive at age.... Me: 15. DH: 12.

Extra-curicular actvities- Me: cheerleading, literary magazine, volunteering. DH: showing hogs/cattle at 4H events.

Favorite childhood vacations spot - Me: Disney World. DH: The state fair.

If anyone is proof that opposites attract, we are it! Can't wait for many more years of exciting new experiences with my Country Mouse!