Brigit’s Diary: “Baby, You’re a Firework…”
Do you ever feel like a plastic bag,
drifting thought the wind
wanting to start again?
Our sex life has been super spotty as of late.
Who am I kidding…it’s been super spotty for years. But, I’ve not been physically tracking it for years…only months. And here’s what I’ve learned. In January, we had sex twice. February: 5 times. March: 5 times (every weekend). April: 4 times. May: once. June: once. Stretches of 4 to 5 weeks at a time without sex. And while a relationship is more than just sex (or should be, imo), for him, sex is connection. And honestly, even for me (the one he dubbed “the sex camel”), weeks without sexual intimacy can cause a bit of stir-craziness. Especially when I’m actively trying to restore my libido (and it’s working a bit!).
Do you ever feel, feel so paper thin,
like a house of cards,
one blow from caving in?
We’ve been sort of padding around each other, softly. Every once in awhile erupting. Stretched thin in more ways than one. Work stress, life stress, political stress, “us” stress. And at night, curled up on the couch binging “Lost” (how apropos), we agree to not talk about it. Most of the time.
Do you ever feel already buried deep,
six feet under – scream –
but no one seems to hear a thing…
We’re silently screaming inside. Both of us. And the cracks are widening, lava threatening to pour out on to the floor. The other night, the volcano erupted. And we fought about everything. Not just sex. No…we threw in parenting issues and homeowner responsibilities and work and all. the. things. Just to be sure we were really good and pissed at each other. By the end, I cried myself to sleep.
Do you know that there’s still a chance for you?
‘Cause there’s a spark in you.
You just gotta ignite the light
and let it shine.
Just own the night
like the Fourth of July.
The next day, we talked. I cried again. We decided a sex therapist was the way to go. It’s a bit dispiriting in some ways, as this will be our 4th counselor. But, hey, we love each other. And there’s more than just a spark between us. It’s not our fault the counselors we have had so far have been so wrong for us. Living out here, a fair bit from the city, we have generalists galore, but no one committed to helping couples see through to their issues with mismatched sex drives, their checkered past with non-monogamy, and their ongoing dilemmas involving dominance and submission.
‘Cause baby you’re a firework.
Come on show ’em what you’re worth.
Make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
As you shoot across the sky…
That lava, too, that spilled out, wasn’t just hurt and frustration. It was also need. Because we both still have that for each other. And when the build up is thick enough, we are drawn together.
The past few nights, there has been possibility. But, he’s not been fully ready. And me, not being the pushy type when it comes to sex, I simply geared up to wait.
Last night, I guess it became more obvious.
And he said, tomorrow. And I said, you said that yesterday. And he said, I’m on the edge of not caring anymore. And I teared up. And he said, I didn’t mean it that way. And I said, well then how did you mean it? And he said, let’s talk about it tomorrow…maybe tonight we can just make out…when was the last time we just made out…like teenagers?
And so we did that. We lay down on the bed, fully clothed at midnight, and began to kiss slowly. The soft scratch of his facial hair enveloped my lips, and our tongues, finding the rhythm of the subtle dance that two people learn and hone over years. Hands roamed and held, legs wrapped, and breath quickened.
We made fun of youth…noting that this is how it starts. And this is rarely enough. Because need leads to want.
And he said, this is what want feels like. This is what I want.
Baby you’re a firework…
come on let your colors burst…
make ’em go “Oh, oh, oh!”
You’re gonna leave ’em fallin’ down down down…
Our “make out only” session escalated quickly to clothes being discarded on the floor. Roving hands began to grab and push and pull. He did all. the. things. And I burst, gushed across the blankets, letting go weeks of pent up…want.
You don’t have to feel like a waste of space.
You’re original, cannot be replaced.
If you only knew what the future holds:
after a hurricane comes a rainbow.
A rain storm in the desert. Transformative.
Maybe a reason why all the doors are closed,
so you can open one that leads you to the perfect road.
Like a lightning bolt, your heart will glow,
and when it’s time, you’ll know.
He didn’t cum last night. While keeping it hard wasn’t an issue (it rarely is), after a few drinks, an orgasm for him just wasn’t in the cards. But he promised that we’d get to that “tomorrow” while the kid had his headphones on and was fully immersed in his video games.
We’ve moved from “possible” to “probable.”
You just gotta ignite the light
and let it shine…
just own the night
like the Fourth of July.
Happy Independence Day!
24 Comments
Jack (and Jill)
Fantastic post. As someone who’s been in a similar situation I’ve been meaning to blog about it for awhile now. I have been keeping track of how much sex we have since before things slowed down, and I think analyzing the data would be interesting at least.
I’m glad things are on an upswing. I hope they go from “probable” to “definite”.
Brigit Delaney
Thanks, Jack. Hopefully, one of these days, we can wrangle this libido of mine and coax it into a more stable pattern. I know it is a fairly common problem, but it’s more detrimental to some relationships than others.
May More
Making out it good. You both obviously want it to work and that’s very positive.
Great breasts and nails!
I think so many people have had a drop in their sex lives since the “shit hit the fan” – I have but I know it will b ok when life is more normal.
May x
May More recently posted…Freedom Independence Confidence ~ Don’t fence me in
Brigit Delaney
I hope life DOES become more normal! It sure seems to be going on and on.
the barefoot sub
Sometimes changing the game is what is needed. I’m so glad you got to enjoy some lusty intimacy
Brigit Delaney
Me, too!
Marie Rebelle
Yay for the step ahead. Bottom line is that you both want it, you’re both working at it, and that’s good. You will win this, I am positive about that 🙂
~ Marie
missy
I am glad that you were able to re connect in this way and hopefully that will make you both feel more positive and less frustrated. Lovely image too ❤️
Brigit Delaney
Thanks, missy!
Gemma Jones
I hope you keep the elusive connection alive. Sometimes it is a slippery sucker to hang on to!
Brigit Delaney
Yes it is!
elliott henry
Best 4th of July fingernails ever! And, you do know how much I love everything else in the photo. Fun hearing Katy!
Brigit Delaney
My nail girl is a pro!
Sweetgirl
Thank you for sharing this intimate post. I hope with all my heart that you work things out. The make out session was clearly the perfect balm for your raw souls. Sending hope and hugs x
Sweetgirl recently posted…Cane Me.
Brigit Delaney
Yes it was! And I look forward to more of it!
Celine Wright
Wow,wow,wow! How it feels, how the longing burns. Oh Bridget, its like your in my mind and your my every thought and emotion being released.Please keep expressing , keep them coming. Masterfully written!
Brigit Delaney
I will, indeed, keep them coming!
Lord Raven
The lack of the physical connection is maddening. I know sex is not all a relationship is about but it is damn important and when it’s on the skids or not present at all the world is insufferable.
Brigit Delaney
He needs it more than I do, but even I begin to lose my mind after a fair bit. And I become hangry for physical intimacy.
twistedbubbles
I would kill for even the teenage lust right now.. I stepped away from blogging for over a year again, out of frustration. I felt like if I could at least write about it I would feel better about not having it, instead I found myself grieving it like a death. Grieving has been a long process. I am so glad you guys found a way to reconnect. Sometimes you just have to step back and go back to basics, back to the beginning..
Brigit Delaney
It is a never-ending and bumpy process for us. There is nothing glittery and sparkly about it, but when we have a good moment, I must shout it from the mountain tops!
Marie Louise
Brigit I love your prose in everything you write. It flows so well, conveys so much and I can really visualise it. I paused at this sentence “We’re silently screaming inside. Both of us. And the cracks are widening, lava threatening to pour out on to the floor.”
I know this has nothing to do with what you’re writing but I’m captured by the language and the feelings you’re expressing to an extend where I don’t really want to say anything and just stay with what I’m reading.
This was such an emotional post and I can only imagine how difficult that situation must be but I’m so glad to have reached the end of this post where things turned back into fireworks and that you’ve moved from possible to probable
Brigit Delaney
Thanks, Marie. Obviously writing for an audience means I put much more care into my words, and I have a tendency to rely on metaphors. It means I can be a tad dramatic. But, it IS a difficult situation. And we are muddling our way through it, as always. Love is not always easy.
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