| Username |
Post |
| big trouble |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 08:48 AM
TREAT YOUR SPOUSE WITH CONSIDERATION
By BOB
It is important for men to remember that as women grow older it becomes harder for them to maintain the same uality of house-keeping as they did when they were younger. When men notice this, they should try not to yell.
Let me relate how I handle the situation. When I got laid off from my consulting job and took "early retirement" in September, it became necessary for Nancy to get a full-time job, both for extra income and for health benefits that we need. She was a trained medical transcriptionist when we met twenty-eight years ago and was fortunate to land a job at a local transcription house. It was shortly after she started working at this job that I noticed that she was beginning to show her age.
I usually get home from fishing or hunting about the same time she gets home from work. Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says that she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts supper. I try not to yell at her when this happens. Instead, I tell her to take her time. I understand she is not as young as she used to be. I just tell her to wake me when she finally does get supper on the table.
She used to wash and dry the dishes as soon as we finished eating. It is now not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after supper. I do what I can by reminding her several times each evening that they aren't cleaning themselves. I know she appreciates this, as it does seem to help her get them done before she goes to bed.
Our washer and dryer are in the basement. When she was younger, Nancy used to be able to go up and down stairs all day and not get tired. Now that she is older she seems to get tired so much more quickly. Sometimes she says she just can't make another trip down those steps. I don't make a big issue of this. As long as she finishes up the laundry the next evening I am willing to over look it. Not only that, but unless I need something ironed to wear to the Monday lodge meeting or to Wednesday's or Saturday's poker club or to Tuesday's or Thursday's bowling or something like that, I will tell her to wait until the next evening to do the ironing.
This gives her a little more time to do some of those odds and ends things like shampooing the dog, vacuuming or dusting. Also, if I have had a really good day fishing, this allows her to gut and scale the fish at a more leisurely pace.
Nancy is starting to complain a little occasionally. Not often, mind you, but just enough for me to notice. For example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. In spite of her complaining, I continue to try to offer encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even three days, that way she won't have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and then wouldn't hurt her any, if you know what I mean.
When doing simple jobs she seems to think she needs more rest periods than she used to have to take. A couple of weeks ago she said she had to take a break when she was only half finished mowing the yard. I overlook comments like these because I realize it's just age talking. In fact, I try not to embarrass her when she needs these little extra rest breaks. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while. I even offer to have one with her, as she may as well make one for me too, and take her break by the hammock so she can talk with me until I fall asleep.
I could go on and on, but I think you know where I'm coming from. I know I probably look like a saint in the way I support Nancy on a daily basis. I'm not saying that the ability to show this much consideration is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible. No one knows better than I how frustrating women can become as they get older. My purpose in writing this is simply to suggest you make the effort.
Achieving the exemplary level of consideration I have attained is out of reach for the average man. However, guys, even if you just yell at your wife a little less often because of this article, I will consider that writing it was worthwhile.
Respectfully submitted,
Bob
Editor's note: Bob's funeral was on Saturday. Nancy was acquitted on Monday
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| Sangey |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 11:07 AM
Is this a clever satire aimed at monarchy and citizens of Nepal?
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| hansy420 |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 11:39 AM
didn't get it
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| Biswo |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 12:16 PM
A great piece. I liked it.
--
In a related note: I remember visiting a Nepali's house in USA years ago. It shocked me to find the husband yelling out at the wife , addressing 'ta', and even occasionally implying that he was somehow superior to the lady.
I was shocked, embarrassed, and had promised I wouldn't visit the home later again.
Fortunately, most of the Nepali men don't act like that in USA, at least that's what my experience has been since then. But again, most of the men act somewhat like that.
Back home, the experience is almost uniformly similar. The more rural area you visit, the more painful realities you are likely to face. Once I went to a recently established 'sukumbaasi basti'. In the sunny afternoon, the men there were playing card. Some women, and some kids were gathered around those men: asking them to go to the house to eat the lunch. Apparently, they were playing card since early morning, while their wives did the whole work of gathering/cooking food.
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| Mercy |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 12:18 PM
Whoever you are trying to address this issue...is not a great one. I would like to ask you....what do you think about this subject matter? I would like to hear from you...will post my thoughts afterwards.
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| Mercy |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 12:20 PM
I am asking Big Trouble
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| dazzling ko keti |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 12:34 PM
At the end of the day, Bob was basically a slave driver----ummmm, maybe just a more gentle version. His death indeed, acquitted and liberated Nancy!!!
PS to the men in sajha: Hope your definition of "being considerate to your wife" does not rhyme with this anecdote. :-)
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| Mercy |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 12:54 PM
If god has given you the power to understand, please use that power for the right thing
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 01:30 PM
An indolent slave-driver indeed!
Complex satire expressed!
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| the other one |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 01:43 PM
I'd at lest squeeze my own lemon juice (no pun) and make dinner for us, so I know what I'm drinking and eating...good piece, I frightfully enjoyed it.
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| Newtien |
Posted
on 23-Jan-04 03:30 PM
Bob was imagining(Role Reversal) all that while doing the dishes himself. The old man died late friday evening coz nancy called a party that day and made him work his life off doing the after party cleaning. Saturday was his funeral and nancy was acquitted as hen-pecking is not a crime.
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| EdHunter |
Posted
on 24-Jan-04 08:58 AM
what kinda guy is this?? juz cos he doesn't scream and shout at his wife doesn't make him any better or nicer than the average normal guy. i mean the poor wife would probably do with some physical help from her husband; instead of him just lazing around and asking her nicely to do her chores. Just cos he's a guy, doesn;t make him the 'king' of the house. It's like making her a slave of the house; in a nicer way that is. Surely she deserves more respect than that.
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| hansy420 |
Posted
on 24-Jan-04 10:11 AM
Bob's been dead for a long time. He's been talking to his wife thinking that she could hear him. But unfortunately he's already a dead meat and he didn't know about it. Bob's funeral was on saturday but notice that its not dated. So his funeral was held probably yrs ago and one fine day, his wife got caught shop lifting and she got out on (some)monday.
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| SITARA |
Posted
on 24-Jan-04 10:21 AM
Bob Doled out and overdosed on Viagra! His aging wife was arrested for practising mummification!
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| suva chintak |
Posted
on 24-Jan-04 12:41 PM
Oh God!
The things men are required to do to keep their women happy...even Viagra! Is there no end ?
The Bobs of the world deserve a break, now and then. No wonder the sucker was seeking some solace from fishing! Little did he know that he would be forced to make up for lost time with a super-sized Viagra!
SC
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| IndisguiSe |
Posted
on 24-Jan-04 01:46 PM
Hahaha... I throughly enjoyed the piece.... hahahha.. so much for being a saint... What a jerk.. lol...
P.S: some of the reader were asking big trouble some questions.. one even asked if it was satire aimed at mornarchy hehehe.. if it could be some help.. I believe this article simply aimed at lazy bums (hubby and hubby to be's..o be throughly enjoyed by eone though... A sweet sarcasm... i liked the "acquitted" part though.. lol.
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| IndisguiSe |
Posted
on 24-Jan-04 01:47 PM
Hahaha... I throughly enjoyed the piece.... hahahha.. so much for being a saint... What a jerk.. lol...
P.S: some of the reader were asking big trouble some questions.. one even asked if it was satire aimed at mornarchy hehehe.. if it could be some help.. I believe this article simply aimed at lazy bums (hubby and hubby to be's..o be throughly enjoyed by eone though... A sweet sarcasm... i liked the "acquitted" part though.. lol.
Smillin.. Indisguise:)
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| Nepe |
Posted
on 25-Jan-04 07:45 AM
Excellent satire on charity. The tone of easiness and innocence, the simplicity of logics and farcical definitions of charity..wow..awesome !
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| critical_thinker |
Posted
on 25-Jan-04 04:20 PM
Another interesting article:
http://www.arts.telegraph.co.uk/opinion/main.jhtml?xml=/opinion/2004/01/17/do1701.xml&sSheet=/opinion/2004/01/17/ixopinion.html
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