Providence

Sunset in Providence, R.I.

Providence: noun. Divine guidance or care.

During our relationship, Pilot and I have already dealt with most of the big life-changing events. Just about everything, I think, except having a baby -- and neither of us is going to let that happen. We've seen divorce, illness, more money, less money, buying a house, moving, selling a house, a long-distance relationship, travel and more travel, job change, death of family members, pet death, car accidents and a whole lot of ice cream. The good has vastly outweighed the bad, or at least that is the way it always feels to us, since it's all on a foundation of our love and our health. We've approached everything with open arms; constant change is all we've ever known in our life together. Now, after attending the second family funeral in three months, another one is here that we never foresaw: an estate of life-changing proportions. We have emotions to work through and others to look out for, but it's another reminder of how life can change drastically in one second. And of how much poorer we are if we go through these events without a partner. We already know we can deal with anything that comes our way, together, no matter how serious. Now it looks like we may be able to also do all the things we want to do sooner, rather than later. We just have to be open to the world.