A Story About Two People

I want to tell you a story about two people.

Two people who fit together, as he says, like a jigsaw puzzle.

I tell him I like him more and more everyday.

There are moments we cling to each other, moments we push away, moments we fall back and moments we fall forward - both alone and together.

We are a complicated pair. In our own heads often. Intense. Independent. Damaged (and I mean that in the best possible way). Passionate. We are so very different and so very much the same.

We have tangled schedules. We tip toe. We ask forgiveness. I soften as I remember these are new pathways and I can choose something different this time.

We inhabit a new territory. Our families broke open. We know that sadness. We know the questions and the fear and the desire to create and build and protect. We know what it's like to know someone forever and ever and then have that person disappear (even though both are still integral pieces of our lives). We know the reality of stories that have an ending.

We also know new joy and we've felt that rush of a beginning.

We are learning as we grow. Alone and together about who we are as individuals and who we are together and what it means to have our families expand.

I don't know how this story will end. It's happening right now and we're living it. Sometimes these sorts of stories are really hard to tell because you're living in the middle of it.

If we always waited for the end to tell a story we'd miss so much.

When I feel most afraid I remind myself that there are things to say, and things to celebrate, and pieces to document without fear of how the story will end. Do stories ever really end? Or do they just change and curve and zig zag and evolve into the next one?

Our family stories are different now, but they are still our families.

What I know is this, he has a huge giant heart of gold even when he tries to hide it with jokes and sarcasm. And the cure for everything just might be pie. Pumpkin for him, fruit for me.

We are in it people. One day at a time.

To be continued.

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186 thoughts

  1. mary - says…
    07/10/2014

    pure. awesome-ness! such a beautiful story!

    and love this --> "If we always waited for the end to tell a story we’d miss so much."

    as always, thanks so much ali for the inspiration.

    live your story.

    Reply 0 Replies
  2. karen c says…
    07/10/2014

    You sure do know how to use your words! :)

    Beautifully said.

    Reply 0 Replies
  3. Jill says…
    07/10/2014

    Beautiful story, beautifully written....touched my heart. Thank you for sharing your journey and your stories with us. I am SO rooting for the both of you :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  4. Melanie says…
    07/10/2014

    How beautiful. Wow.

    Reply 0 Replies
  5. andrea says…
    07/10/2014

    you just have the best way with words. did you know that about yourself before you began scrapbooking? beautiful. great pictures, and a deep heartfelt story. thank you for sharing.

    Reply 0 Replies
  6. Beth Holmes says…
    07/10/2014

    Ali this particular part really hit me -- really sort of life changing way of looking at things:
    "If we always waited for the end to tell a story we’d miss so much.

    When I feel most afraid I remind myself that there are things to say, and things to celebrate, and pieces to document without fear of how the story will end. Do stories ever really end? Or do they just change and curve and zig zag and evolve into the next one?"

    Thank you!

    Reply 0 Replies
  7. Keianna says…
    07/10/2014

    And this was beautiful. This is not my story, but I felt your loss, sense of hope and desire for growth. Honestly, I am so happy for you and have enjoyed seeing Aaron pop up more and more through your PL pages :-) So glad you are getting another chance to create a beautiful story.

    Reply 0 Replies
  8. Liz Sawyer says…
    07/10/2014

    Writing of hopes, writing in the middle and then being able to go back and write at an endpoint or significant milepost are techniques core to your career... Beautiful writing here reminding me if those simple writing perspectives.

    Reply 0 Replies
  9. SarahJane says…
    07/10/2014

    WOW, I really liked THIS:
    If we always waited for the end to tell a story we’d miss so much.

    Also, being in my own second marriage, I smirked at the line of him hiding with jokes and sarcasm. (I have that NOW, too, in my second husband. Sometimes, it can be so enlightening and other times, drive me CRAZY because sometimes you just want an honest, straight-forward answer or conversation.) I am thankful EVERY DAY that while out looking for MYSELF, we found each other (and we now have two beautiful children to make our lives complete!)

    Always inspiring, Ali. Thank you... yet again!

    Reply 0 Replies
  10. breeoxd says…
    07/10/2014

    I really struggled with getting my relationships into the scrapbook. As an unmarried woman, it was so hurtful to have to break open all my dating history, to see it documented for everyone to see, see all the "failure" and pain. I wondered sometimes why I did it. Ive been with my guy for 9 years now, and Im very thankful I did, because I can now see the contrast. And even after 9 years, our story is still open ended- arent the best stories?

    Reply 0 Replies
  11. Holly says…
    07/10/2014

    Awesome post! Please bring back 31 things as a self paced class!

    Reply 0 Replies
  12. Jaime says…
    07/10/2014

    Ali,
    been there done that...and so so glad i leapt when I was so afraid. Our hearts are resilient things sometimes.
    Second beginnings are worth embracing.
    blessings for yours
    Jaime

    Reply 0 Replies
  13. Kelly says…
    07/10/2014

    absolutely lovely....

    Reply 0 Replies
  14. lori says…
    07/10/2014

    awesome - love this! go ali go!

    Reply 0 Replies
  15. patty says…
    07/10/2014

    beauty*FULL story...

    Reply 0 Replies
  16. Andrea Grzech says…
    07/10/2014

    Love this!! Thanks for sharing your story so honestly.

    Reply 0 Replies
  17. Melissa says…
    07/10/2014

    Beautiful! Thank you for being vulnerable and sharing some of this story with us. So happy you are finding a new way and discovering happiness along the way.

    Reply 0 Replies
  18. Gabi says…
    07/10/2014

    You have such an amazing gift of storytelling, Ali! I'm happy for you that your story unfolds in the right direction.

    Reply 0 Replies
  19. Melody says…
    07/10/2014

    The photographs are as telling as your words. Is that "baggage" you're holding in your photo? :o) Love the big blank canvas and look forward to the day this photo is redone with you both in the same frame!

    Reply 0 Replies
  20. Linda says…
    07/10/2014

    I admire you. You are a brave, strong woman.

    Reply 0 Replies
  21. Stephanie says…
    07/10/2014

    "If we always waited for the end to tell a story we’d miss so much." So true and expressed so beautifully. This is one of those things that you forget you need to be reminded about...until you are.

    Thank you for sharing your life with us. xoxo

    Reply 0 Replies
  22. StacyK says…
    07/10/2014

    Wow, I agree with the others..."beautifully written". This is an inspiration "If we always waited for the end to tell a story we’d miss so much." Thank you for all that you are and do and grateful that you share it with us.

    Reply 0 Replies
  23. Amy J says…
    07/10/2014

    :)

    Reply 0 Replies
  24. Lisa says…
    07/10/2014

    goosebumps.

    Reply 0 Replies
  25. tracy says…
    07/10/2014

    love.

    Reply 0 Replies

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