I love life in the cottage house for this reason. (Well, for almost all the reasons, but for this one specifically right now.) I can turn to Daniel at any given, random moment, and ask a question like: “Do you really think we’re going to colonize Mars in our lifetime?”
He’ll pause and think (but no longer outwardly question why in the world such a thought just occurred to me; ain’t marriage grand), and say, “In our lifetimes, yeah, I can. I think we will.”
Then we’ll get into a debate about who on this planet really wants to jet off to another, mostly dusty looking and rather inhospitable planet (by my count), get dropped off and STAY THERE for all the rest of his/her life. “How does that sound appealing?” I will cry.
And Daniel will get a sort of wistful look in his eyes, and start talking about being a pioneer and how there’s a majesty in that and I will interrupt him with a firm, “No! We are not going to Mars.”
And then I’ll give him my very serious face, to show him I mean business. And I do, I do mean business. No way we are signing up for a one-way ticket to Mars.
It’s a preposterous existence we sometimes live in the cottage house, but it’s a delightful one.
**And yes, that is a photograph of Daniel leaving the cottage house, but don’t fret. It was not a direct result of this conversation or any other ridiculous conversation I incurred upon us. I just liked his resoluteness in the moments leading up to the capturing of that photo. At the time we were experiencing a hard-hitting, late season snowstorm. It was miserable cold outside, but he still motivated himself to get out the door and go for a run. I elected to stay firmly in my place on the couch beneath lots of blankets. As I do.
Following are two further silly photos taken whilst in our cottage. Because silly is the way we roll.
^^^I am in desperate need of a haircut. Send in the professionals already.
^^^Not at all how you’re supposed to use headphones (more specifically the microphone attached to the headphones for all manner of phone chats), but I like his problem solving skills.
This post brought to you by North Face. Not really at all actually, but with the prominent placing on Daniel’s jacket there, it certainly seems like it could have been.
OK, bye.
postscript
“I wrote up a little blog post about our conversation on Mars. Is it cool with you if I post that?”
“Yes, you should be reading up on this anyway.”
“On colonizing Mars?”
“Yes.”
“WE ARE NOT MOVING TO MARS.”
He plays “Fly Me to the Moon” by Frank Sinatra.
(Send help immediately.)