He’s a freelance musician. He’s been in my life for 14 years. We’ve had our ups and downs, gone through some tough times and experienced great joys. We’ve had our share of failures and successes. In short, we have a full life… A wonderful life:
1 - I get to enjoy free concerts from the comfort of my own home.
With rehearsals and recording sessions, I have access—right from my living room or basement—to concerts and sometimes even unreleased tracks I’ve never heard before. How nice it is to do chores, play with the kids, or just relax with a cup of coffee while listening to “live” music of all styles: jazz, pop, classical, choir, duos, trios, “Top 40”…
2 - Both the hardworking and the lazy sides of me are satisfied
My husband’s schedule is anything but typical or predictable in advance, which means I’m the one in charge of managing the household. The fact that he’s often away in the evenings also means I’m in charge of the evening routine, and on the nights when Dad is home, he follows that same routine. Scheduling appointments, signing up for activities, buying things for the kids, packing for trips, etc.—I’m the one who has to plan it all… So the “Organizer” in me is very satisfied since it’s done my way (anyone else relate?).
On the other hand, who ends up taking the kids to these appointments? Dad!!! Why? Because I’m a smart lazybones who schedules these famous appointments on weekday mornings when, the vast majority of the time, he’s at home! So, he’s the one who’s available to take them! Fantastic, isn’t it? I can’t even remember the last time I went to an appointment scheduled for my son… Doctor, dentist, optometrist… And here’s something else worth noting: he’s in charge of grocery shopping. Because there’s no one at the grocery store on Monday and Tuesday mornings…
3 - Backstage access and meet-and-greets for me and my kids
My sons have access behind the scenes at every theater and every outdoor stage in Quebec… All it takes is for his dad, his godfather, or his “uncle” to be performing. He can touch (almost) everything, play with the instruments, meet the artists and their crews, and eat and drink from the buffet… You can’t imagine the treasure trove of memories they’re building for themselves.
4 - Hotels and Their “Freeeeee” Amenities
Tours make it possible to take little romantic getaways for practically nothing… During sound checks, meetings, and the show (if I don’t feel like attending), I have access to a relatively well-equipped hotel room and often a pool, a spa, and other little pleasures of hotel life… Do I really need to say more?
5 - Lots of other little perks that keep my life from getting boring…
The irregular schedules that keep things interesting and prevent anything from getting repetitive. The tours that make me miss him, and when he comes back… it’s magical in every way. His dedication to his family—because when he’s there, he’s ALL there! Dinners at restaurants on Monday nights, when it’s empty and there are plenty of specials. Event launches where we dress up and feel glamorous for the evening. Discovering new music and rediscovering albums we’d forgotten about…
My husband is a musician. He’s also a romantic and an extraordinary dad. I love our relationship; I love our family. It’s not perfect, of course, but it’s still a lot of fun…