Two Become One

We have a little sign in our bedroom that says, "Two Become One". I was looking at it today and thinking about the different ways that Eric and I have "Become One".

Nothing of profound importance hit me... but I realized that there are a ton of little tiny things/ways of doing things that we've picked up from the other person without even realizing it.

Seriously, none of these are monumental or live changing. I just want to remember who started some of these things.

Case 1: PB&J
The making of a peanut-butter and jelly sandwich.  We seriously eat these things like crazy 'round here. So bad. I almost never ate these when I was single. But when I did, I'd get out one butter knife for the peanut butter and a spoon for the jam.

Now, from observing Eric, I've learned that there is a better way. Gone are the days where two different utensils are needed for making PB&J's. All you do is take a big spoon and use the back of it to collect and spread out your peanut butter onto one slice of bread. Wipe it clean on your second piece of bread and then use the inside of the spoon to scoop out the jam. Voila.  I'm a changed woman.

Case 2: Lights on, Lights off

 I was taught from a very young age that you turn off a light as soon as you leave the room. Even if you are coming right back. Saves energy and helps keep the house cool. I did it growing up out of habit more than anything, but now that I pay my own electric bill, I am adamant about this.

So imagine my surprise (read "horror") in the first few months of our marriage when I'd come home and every single light (granted we only have 3 in our little apartment) had been left on! Oh the humanity! How long had those little energy/money suckers been left on with no one to use them? After much loving coaxing, I'm finally starting to train Eric to be a little bit better at remembering to turn off the lights... but we've been married for almost a year and I'm thinking I've got at least another year or so before he has this one mastered.

**In his defense, his house doesn't really have light switches. They are timed lights so he never really needed to worry about turning them off.

Case 3: 
Eric loves a clean home. As do I. However....
Eric has a "dishes rule of thumb" that he loves and lives by. Before he is about to eat the meal he has prepared, he must wash all the dishes he used in preparation for this meal. No food reaches those lips until the kitchen is spotless.

This is a fantastic rule, I agree. But man, I have the hardest time following it. Especially for dinner. I'm usually tired and hungry from the day's activities that I work super fast to get that food ready. As soon as it's done, I want to eat it! The last thing I want to do is force my fatigued and famished body to clean up the kitchen before allowing myself to eat what I've just exhausted myself making.

But if I don't do it before we eat, then I sure as darn don't want to do it after we eat either, but then, I'm ready to veg on the couch. Sooo... Eric is training me to get that kitchen clean before meal time... but he's got at least another year (or 20) before I've mastered that one.