I used to think that renovations were a good test of a couple's strength. Then I thought that the first months of a child's life were a good test of a couple's strength. Now I understand that renovations or a newborn are a feat you can muster up and accomplish, but the real test of strength is different temperaments. Let's say you're a night owl, the kind who needs a coffee drip in the morning and a 2:00 PM start. And the person you live with is happiest between 5:00 AM and lunch. It would be fine if they were quietly enjoying life, but no, they start nagging you with the energy of a Duracell rabbit, asking, "What are our plans?" "Why are you lying around, the birds are singing!" And you're still unconscious, in a coma. Not only do you have no plans for the day, you need help to lift your eyelids. And this one flutters and buzzes nearby, laughing heartily and urging you to ditch the coffee in favor of an early walk. Now imagine that your child, by temperament, also happens to belong to the "5 a.m. wake-up call" cult. And now they're both jumping all over you, unbearably happy with life. Can you imagine the power of love that resists the urge to strangle this couple and go back to sleep? This was a clumsy ode to my husband, who tackled many renovations with me, raised a morning person, and never said a bad word to all my "Why are you so gloomy? Come on, smile, what a wonderful morning!"