The Parable of the Bagel

Once upon a time, there was a man and a woman who loved each other, at least they thought they loved each other. 12 years ago, they spent their days flirting, staring into each other's eyes, staying up half the night talking about everything under the sun, and prancing around town completely oblivious that there were other people living in the world. Their days were magical, enchanting, and they were blissfully ignorant in their little bubble.

Somehow, over the course of eight years, five children came into their home. The old enchantment was replaced with a new enchantment. The enchantment of giggles, slobbery kisses, and babies napping on their chests. Along with the enchantment came chaos. The chaos of tantrums, the onslaught of dirty diapers, and the never-ending colossal messes. The nights were still sleepless, but the dynamic conversations were replaced with feedings, combating nightmares, and cleaning up 3 a.m. sickness. Evenings of adoring couch snuggling were replaced with homework, baths, and hours of managing the debris.

Love endured; exhaustion ensued.

Then, one chilly December day, amid the background of family tragedy, this man and this woman spent the entire day apart, each frantically doing their part to ease the burden of another and keep their little family safe. It had been several days of tackling a crisis the size of which either had ever seen, each day bringing stressful, unforeseen developments. Exhaustion was replaced with endless worry, debilitating fear, and straight-up fatigue.

It was a Tuesday. Throughout their travels that bizarre, surreal, winter day, the man and the woman had each stopped to get the other a gift, a trifle really, just to say that they were thinking of the other person and thanking them for their selfless and endless contribution the last few weeks. Well after sunset, into the very late evening after all the children had been put to bed, this man and this woman were reunited. They both pulled out a large, square Einstein Bros. box filled with a baker's dozen of fresh bagels.

26 bagels in total.

Plus 4 tubs of flavored cream cheese.

The irony alone was tender and sweet and was met with a hug, an adoring smile, and a peck on the lips. Then, the tired couple opened the boxes to reveal the components. The man's box was full of Asiago cheese, toasted onion, and garden veggie spread. The smell of asiago makes the man vomit slightly, he detests straight-up onion, and vegetables mixed with cream cheese is possibly the most revolting flavor available offered by the famous brothers. The woman then opened her box. It was full of blueberry madness, cinnamon raisin goodness, and bright pink strawberry spread.

The man giggled as he grabbed his favorite fresh blueberry bagel, ripped it apart, and tossed a bite in his mouth. Then he reached out, pulled the likewise giggling woman into him, and wrapped his arms around her shoulders. The woman rested her weary forehead on the man's chest and melted into his arms. She lacked the energy to even put her arms around his body. But, as had become the norm over the past decade (plus), his arms gave her strength, his love gave her hope, and his ironic, caring gesture made her pity that girl 12 years ago.

To think that young, 22-year-old girl thought she knew what love was...