I know. You thought every blog from now on was going to be something about our new baby. But, you were wrong. I am six + weeks postpartum now, so I can begin to think about other things. (But scroll down and see how cute she is if you haven’t already.)
Living in rural OK doesn’t provide a lot of opportunities for Mark and I to go out. I am not whining, really, I am not. It is just a point of fact. So to deal with the situation, we are beginning to plan for some more purposeful time together. We are going to have at-home book night dates from time to time. This will be like our own little mini book group. The first book we are reading is Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen. I have the advantage in that I have read it more than once before, and I have seen the movie countless times. However, already, he is seeing more “stuff” in it than I have ever seen. [Sometimes it is really irritating to have a smart husband ;)] Seriously though, I am about 10 chapters ahead of him, and he is pointing out things to me about the economic picture of England in the late 1700s that he is gathering by reading the book, and I am thinking, “I never thought of that before, but I can see why you would say that.”
I really think it is great that I have a husband who is willing to read Jane Austen in the first place. It is even greater that we can have coversations that don’t revolve around our kids (even though we have plenty that do). I am encouraged by this because 20 years from now when the kids are transitioning out of our home into homes of their own, we will still have things to talk about.
Your post reminds me of my own husband. About a year ago, a group from an online message board I frequent decided to read and discuss Austen’s Persuasion. At the time, I wasn’t interested in being involved but my husband, who merely “lurks” on the board, bought & read the book! It still makes me smile to think of it.
My husband & I had an odd “dating” practice before we were married (we had to; he lived in Seattle and I was in Dayton). We would choose a movie to rent and watch it at an agreed time, Saturday nite at 7pm for example. Then he would call me and we’d discuss it. Fun!
Jenn,
This:
http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/detail/-/0671882368/qid=1057075795/sr=1-1/ref=sr_1_1/002-5576208-4958431?v=glance&s=books
is a fun book that might add to your study. You might be able to find it in your library — I did. Then you can check and see if Mark’s deductions are correct. 🙂 I made similar deductions about culture from reading Austen before knowing about this book, and when I read the book I found that most of mine were correct.
Peter Leithart said a couple of years ago at CWSC for high school and college students, “Real men read Austen”
Barb–What a sweet long-distance dating tactic. It was probably better than seeing the movies together in terms of generating discussion and getting to know each other.
Jane–The book looks interesting. I am going to try to find it. Thanks for the tip.
Jessie–That Peter Leithart says pretty clever things.