Nice night. Hung out with good gal pals, laughed, ate and drank--what fun! H went out to have some alone time (or whomever else he might have been with, I did not ask or care).
H came home LATE. We had a snow storm here and he had gone to a town north to hang out, and got stuck in the snow, said it was horrible driving back...I told him that I hope that he takes care of himself next time and stays there. We laughed and joked...he initiated a g/n kiss and was playful. I was affectionate in a friendly way--not expectant or overbearing..just taking his lead. He mentioned having a rough time at work, and the need to get away. I understood and said I was glad he got away. Earlier in the day, before he left, I called my phone to check messages, and he picked it up (which is unusual b/c he normally doesn't want to talk to me), and he ended the conversaton with ILY.
This morning, I woke early, did house chores, let him be. He woke up and seemed really interested in talking...followed me around the house to talk, stalled on getting out of the house when he usually is bolting out the door...engaging in converstation. I went about my chores, listened and talked with him, but did not stop my day to focus soley on him. He seemed to be needy, but I didn't indulge.
Then, as he left (for work), he started really opening up about work, a meeting he had yesterday, feeling burned out, wanting time, wanting recognition, feelng blue. I listened and gave him a great pep talk. He said it helped him. He actually listened and didn't make an effort to bolt out the door. I talked to him like a good friend that I cared about and really understood, and pumped him up. Told him that I was proud of the person he became with his new duties. He kept saying thank you. Then, I let him go, told him I didn't want to waste his time (big 180 for me). I also, casually, told him that I understood that he was under a lot of stress, from work and life (meaning us) and pain, and he took all this well, I said I was sorry for my part in that, and did not want to impose that anymore. He did not say anything. I let it go and changed the subject...I didn't need a response, just to get it out there. I think it meant a lot to him that I recognized that our life has been a tremendous stress to him and he carried it well...when before he would have been a wreck and blaming me (one of his things he changed and I wanted to recognize).
Felt good to be a friend...no expectations in return.
