long distance relationships

before january, jesse and i had never lived in the same city. while i remained stationed in our hometown, jesse finished college two hours away, and took internships anywhere from 3 hours to 9 hours away. so for two years, our relationship existed over the telephone. and let's be honest, no one likes to talk on the phone for hours. especially not boys. (yet another difference in the sexes... it was nearly impossible to get jesse to sit quietly still, sans distractions, while we were on the phone).
by the end of the long-distance run, we had overanalyzed and overdiscussed every single part of our lives. every date felt like a first date and we were truly happy to each other whenever the opportunity arrived.
so you can imagine the shock when jesse moved home in january... for an unknown amount of time. there was definitely a transitional period (wait - isn't it supposed to be a bad sign if we're sitting on the couch staring at the tv but not talking?? is this really what other couples do?). but now we're feelin' it. we're in the groove.
so much so that when he went out of town this weekend and i didn't see him for several days... i didn't know what to do with myself. just months ago, that was my routine, but suddenly it threw me totally off course. i was like a lost puppy (pathetic, i know).
i have learned one thing from it all. there are definite advantages to long-distance relationships but i never want to be in one again. (don't worry jesse, if i have to, i will!) there is so much every day stress to deal with that it's a relief to come home to someone every day.