Uncle Sam's Christmas Gift

It has taken nearly five months - the national average for K-1 fiance visas - for USCIS to finally approve J's visa.  When I tell everyone this, they smile and congratulate me because, to them, it seems like the end.  However, as J says, it's more like the end of the beginning.  Forms must still be filled out and submitted, criminal history checks completed, money paid, and an interview conducted in the UK.  However, it is at least an initial Yes.  It is an Approved.  It is Uncle Sam finally giving his (almost) blessing.

The hardest part was not just the waiting, but not knowing how long we might wait.  During that wait, we decided that J should come back in December. Perhaps for a visit.  Perhaps, if all had been wrapped up by then, for good.  Due to the painfully slow processing of everything involved in this visa venture, it seems that it will have to be a visit and he will return to the UK after a few weeks. However, we will spend the holidays together and Lucy will finally have someone to spoil her again.  I worry that he might be as happy to see the cat again as he is to see me!

Anyone who knows me would agree that patience is not one of my virtues.  I work at it more than anyone would probably be willing to believe.  I wish I could say this process has taught me patience.  Instead, I would have to say that it's mostly taught me how insidious loneliness can be.  And that's from someone who is pretty good at keeping myself occupied, being an only child.  It's taught me that it takes two (at least) to make a house (or, in our case an apartment) feel like a home. And, most importantly, it's taught me the value of commitment to purpose.  J has called it a soul destroying process and we both said, on more than one occasion, that we could see how mixed nationality couples (particularly those where one member is a US citizen and attempting to bring their intended to the US) would just say 'heck with this' and bow out.  However, we both persevered, despite distance, despite loneliness, despite the difficulties of living two lives in limbo, and are now looking forward to the payoff - stability, home-making, and togetherness.

For most of Sunday afternoon, I kept saying...

Peyton, WTF?

When you are in love with someone they can make you happier than anyone else on earth.  They can also cause you the most despair. I've come to realize that having a football team of your heart is a paler version of that emotional entanglement.

I have put my heart behind the Colts this season and early on that seemed like a really great idea. Peyton Manning is widely regarded as the best quarterback in the NFL.  He is great - statistics prove that. But, lately, his most glaring statistic relates to his propensity to throw passes that are intercepted and, even more painful, often returned for a touchdown.

Yet, you don't stop loving someone simply because they mess up or don't live up to your perhaps too high expectations. Love is an investment and they say you should invest for the long-term and look at performance over time. As a whole, there is no doubt that the Colts are a fearsome team. Is their O line rather crappy at the moment? Yes. Can they be successful without players like Joseph Addai being healthy and giving their all on the field? I think so.

Whatever the combination of factors that have put their playoff fate in question (I'm still watching their game with the Cowboys and am not ready to assume they will lose), they have become the team of my heart. So, if this isn't the year, then I will believe in their ability to do it next season. Though that doesn't mean every loss  and interception won't hurt between now and then. Still, I guess the benefit is that the lows make each touchdown that much sweeter.

Later, after the game:  Okay, it really hurts.  Another pick!  Another "Peyton, WTF??" out my mouth and another loss for the Colts putting them behind the, gulp, Jacksonville Jaguars in the AFC South.  Good grief.

The good news (potentially)?  They play the Titans next.  They are a team that is currently not doing so well, to say the least.  They have scored a total of six points in the last two weeks and, no, they weren't on a bye week during that time.

The bad news?  The Colts need to effect a speedy mental and physical recovery for that game which starts on Thursday night.