He saw it the first time we met.

The first time Justin took me home to meet his parents, we sat in the living room chatting with his dad while his mom conducted an orchestra of steaming pots & pans like a premier maestro. She stirred and strained to a melody in her head, while the steam just struggled to keep up the tempo. And it was awe-inspiring to witness.

To this day, I have no idea what made him say it. But as we were sitting there, just like that and out of nowhere, Justin’s dad looked at me and said, “So….do you know how to swing a hammer?”

My mind raced.

What is this a trick question? A lead in to a joke? Are you going to make me work for my supper? What, do you have some manual labor you’ve been trying to get done? I mean, I could sing instead…..I could sing for my supper if you wanted. Go all Oliver Twist about the situation. Some Celine Dion perhaps. A little Etta James. No wait. That’s a bad idea. Singing is a bad idea. A really baaaaad idea. Oh crap. This is taking way too long. Time’s up. Just answer already. Seriously. It’s been forever. Just. Say. Something.

Uhh. Yea.

“Good. So someday when you & Jus get married and buy a house, I know you’ll be able to help out with fixing it up.”

Annnnnnd crickets. Gaped-mouth, frozen in fear, did he really just say that crickets. Married? House? Hammers? Are you kidding me? Both Justin & I shifted in our seats and stared at our hands the way that only two people who have known each other all of two weeks and have just been told they’re going to get married can. Crickets. Six foot tall, for heaven’s sake don’t say anything. Crickets.

But see, he saw it the first time we met. And he saw it before either of us did.

And last night, nearly six years later, he came over to see the real thing. The whole Marantz crew-Mom, Dad, Little Bro & his Fiance- made the trek down to New Haven to see the new place nearly finished. Well non-condemnable at least. And after that we went out to dinner and laughed over Mahi Mahi Maria. Zuppa del mar. Cannolis and lemon cheesecake. And as we drank our wine and raised our glasses, silently I gave thanks for my very wise father-in-law. For the life that he saw the very first time we met.

He saw it before either of us did. And he helped us see it too.

** And because it’s Friday and in honor of my very wise in-laws, here’s a little shot of their very handsome “Grand-dog” sitting next to our very handsome new dressers! :)