It's the little things...
Being able to touch her when we're at work, knowing she will turn into me and not away from me.
Watching her smirk behind someone's back, as we share an inside joke.
Looking into those eyes, so full of messages unspoken yet completely understood.
Knowing if I push it too far, she's there to reel me back in.
Watching the surprising and amazing happen all around us every day, even in the middle of the crap we have on our plate, like seeing her face when she hears the word "Mom."
The complete conviction that no matter how bad it gets, I'm not going to slide back into old destructive patterns because she won't let me go.
Retire and give this up? Is he nuts?