Every time steam starts coming out my ears when my husband annoys me, I remind myself, there is no lack of ideas, and I simmer down.

It’s not that I’ve adapted to annoyance in our 32-year marriage. It’s that I’ve realized that I can get along with my spouse.

I fell in love with my husband at some point, and it is silly to think that the love goes away. Love never goes away, but it can grow. If I let it.

Love isn’t reliant on time, emotions, money, or fancy things. It grows with good ideas, practical ideas.

What’s practical?

A cell phone could be practical. My husband has one. But he only answers it about 35% of the time and he checks his messages that night or the next day, or the next week. Not so practical then.

To get along, I adapt. I either think of important things to tell him before he leaves the house. Or, if something comes up and I can’t get a hold of him right-a-way, I listen for another idea. Maybe call a neighbor.

For example, my last trip took me to Denmark and on the return flight I landed in Toronto, Canada. My next flight was delayed, which would stop me from making my connection in Newark, New Jersey to Albany, New York. It was a bummer. But, alas, the airline attendant got me another flight to Syracuse. The plane was to leave in 40 minutes.

I ran to the gate, found an old-fashioned pay phone and stuffed my credit card in it to pay for one call. I called our daughter in Seattle, Washington. Calling her was a better idea than calling my husband. She would get a hold of her father using a few different phone numbers.

He had two hours to drive. I landed in Syracuse and waited for my husband. Sure enough, he came just when I figured he would. The flight diversion knocked 3 hours off my flying. Bravo!

When things don’t work out in a relationship, take a deep breath. There is no lack of good ideas. They are yours to act on. Those good ideas can keep bringing us together, even if it isn’t in a way we first expected.