Menu Lifestyle
By Emily Parker
Updated: Aug. 10, 2023
Originally Published: April 9, 2017
Have you ever returned home to discover that your partner has spontaneously decided to construct an intricate treehouse while you were simply out for a haircut? Well, that’s precisely what happened to me recently.
I’ve walked in to find my husband picking up the ukulele for no apparent reason or placing a bid on a vintage VW van that he envisioned converting into a mobile camper—despite having zero knowledge about cars. On one occasion, I had to intervene when he attempted to create paint for our kids using some peculiar red plants he found during a hike. A quick search revealed that these plants could induce hallucinations if ingested, which would have certainly made for a memorable Saturday!
Keeping pace with my husband’s whirlwind of creativity is a challenge. He constantly seeks new, intriguing projects to fuel his happiness, whether it’s chopping down trees to craft furniture, making his own corned beef, or transforming doorknobs and sheet metal into a coat rack. He’s even taught himself photography, how to change the brakes on our car, and, I suppose, how to craft things from potentially toxic plants. The list is endless.
One day he’s determined to learn how to make skis, and the next he’s diving into meditation or perfecting his enchilada recipe. Watching him is exhausting enough to make me crave a nap.
Most days, I wish I could channel even a fraction of his enthusiasm. I’ve never experienced excitement quite like his when he managed to reduce the noise of our dishwasher by 10 decibels using old wool sweaters. Yes, he actually measured the decibels. (Let’s not even go there.) Some days, though, I wish he would just take a moment to relax.
His insatiable curiosity can be both captivating and tiring. Imagine going on a road trip with him—he’s bound to inquire about every historical building and geological formation we pass. And I can never provide answers to his endless questions. Going to the movies is a challenge because he struggles to sit still for that long, while I relish the opportunity to unwind for as long as possible.
Naturally, his creative mind often overlooks mundane tasks like putting laundry away or remembering where he places things. He believes that if something goes into a drawer, it is forgotten. He needs to see everything he owns, while I am a firm believer in organizing things out of sight. Ironically, this makes me the only one who knows where anything is located, which can be quite inconvenient.
After years together, we’ve learned to balance his creative energy with my more structured tendencies. He immerses himself in his projects, and I take care of organizing everything so he can find what he needs—most of the time. We’ve embraced our quirks, which is truly what marriage is about.
One thing’s for sure: life with him is never dull. There are always new songs to sing, art to create, and skills to learn. So if you too are married to a highly imaginative person, I feel you. And if anyone wants to join me for a movie where we can simply sit in silence, that would be blissful.
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