B
baswm
Guest
Advice from a Caring and Understanding Husband
Dear Husbands:
Please be aware that as your wives age, it is
harder for them to maintain the same quality
of housekeeping as when they were younger.
When you notice this, try not to yell at them.
Some are oversensitive, and there is nothing
worse than an oversensitive woman.
My name is Ricky. Let me relate how I handled
the situation with my wife, Lucy.
When I was laid off from my consulting job and
took early retirement in April, it became necessary
for Lucy to get a full-time job, both for extra income
and for the health insurance benefits we needed.
Shortly after she started working, I noticed she
was beginning to show her age.
I usually get home from the golf course about the
same time she gets home from work, and although
she knows how hungry I am, she rests an hour or
so before she starts dinner. I don't yell at her. Instead,
I tell her to take her time and just wake me when
she gets dinner on the table. I generally have lunch
in the Men's Grill at the club, so eating out is not
reasonable. I'm ready for some home- cooked
grub when I hit that door.
She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished
eating. But now, it's not unusual for them to sit on
the table for several hours after dinner. I do what I
can by diplomatically reminding her several times
each evening that they won't clean themselves. I
know she appreciates this, as it does seem to
motivate her to get them done before she goes
to bed. I really think my old business as a consultant
helps a lot. (Telling people what they ought to do is
one of my strong points!)
Also, now that she has gotten older, she does seem
to get tired so much more quickly. Our washer and
dryer are in the basement, and sometimes she says
she just can't make another trip down those steps.
I don't make a big issue of this, just as long as she
finishes up the laundry the next evening. I'm willing
to overlook her shortcomings in this area. Unless I
need something ironed to wear to the Monday lodge
meeting, or to the Wednesday and Saturday poker
club, or to Tuesday's and Thursday's bowling, I'll 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 like shampooing the dog, vacuuming
or dusting. If I had a really bad day on the course and
it was wet and muddy, and my clubs are a mess, I let
her clean them, you know, getting the grit off the grips
and a little light Brillo on the club faces. Since my
golf bag is heavy, I lift it out of the trunk for her. Women
are delicate, have weak wrists and can't lift heavy
stuff as good as men.
But I had to tell her that I don't like to be wakened
during my after- golf nap, so rather than bother me,
she can put them back in the trunk when she's finished.
Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think. For
example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find
time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour.
But boys, we take 'em for better or worse, so just
smile and 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).
I like to think tact is one of my strong points. When
doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs
more rest periods. She had to take a break when she
was only half finished mowing the yard. I try not to make
a scene. I'm a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice,
big, cold glass of fresh squeezed lemonade and just
sit for a while. And, as long as she is making one for
herself, she may as well make one for me too, then
take her break by my hammock. That way we can
talk until I fall asleep.
I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I
support Lucy, but I'm not saying that showing this
much consideration is easy. Many men will find it
difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody knows
better than I do how frustrating women get as they
get older. However, guys, even if you just use a
little more tact and less criticism of your aging
wife because of this letter, I will consider that
writing it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put
on this earth to help each other.
Regards, Ricky
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ricky was rushed to the hospital
Thursday, May 4th. He was found with a Calloway
extra long 50-inch Big Bertha Golf Driver rammed
up his rectum with only two inches of grip showing.
His wife Lucy was arrested, but after the jury read
this letter, they accepted her defense that he
accidentally sat on it. She was released from
custody on Friday.
Dear Husbands:
Please be aware that as your wives age, it is
harder for them to maintain the same quality
of housekeeping as when they were younger.
When you notice this, try not to yell at them.
Some are oversensitive, and there is nothing
worse than an oversensitive woman.
My name is Ricky. Let me relate how I handled
the situation with my wife, Lucy.
When I was laid off from my consulting job and
took early retirement in April, it became necessary
for Lucy to get a full-time job, both for extra income
and for the health insurance benefits we needed.
Shortly after she started working, I noticed she
was beginning to show her age.
I usually get home from the golf course about the
same time she gets home from work, and although
she knows how hungry I am, she rests an hour or
so before she starts dinner. I don't yell at her. Instead,
I tell her to take her time and just wake me when
she gets dinner on the table. I generally have lunch
in the Men's Grill at the club, so eating out is not
reasonable. I'm ready for some home- cooked
grub when I hit that door.
She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished
eating. But now, it's not unusual for them to sit on
the table for several hours after dinner. I do what I
can by diplomatically reminding her several times
each evening that they won't clean themselves. I
know she appreciates this, as it does seem to
motivate her to get them done before she goes
to bed. I really think my old business as a consultant
helps a lot. (Telling people what they ought to do is
one of my strong points!)
Also, now that she has gotten older, she does seem
to get tired so much more quickly. Our washer and
dryer are in the basement, and sometimes she says
she just can't make another trip down those steps.
I don't make a big issue of this, just as long as she
finishes up the laundry the next evening. I'm willing
to overlook her shortcomings in this area. Unless I
need something ironed to wear to the Monday lodge
meeting, or to the Wednesday and Saturday poker
club, or to Tuesday's and Thursday's bowling, I'll 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 like shampooing the dog, vacuuming
or dusting. If I had a really bad day on the course and
it was wet and muddy, and my clubs are a mess, I let
her clean them, you know, getting the grit off the grips
and a little light Brillo on the club faces. Since my
golf bag is heavy, I lift it out of the trunk for her. Women
are delicate, have weak wrists and can't lift heavy
stuff as good as men.
But I had to tell her that I don't like to be wakened
during my after- golf nap, so rather than bother me,
she can put them back in the trunk when she's finished.
Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think. For
example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find
time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour.
But boys, we take 'em for better or worse, so just
smile and 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).
I like to think tact is one of my strong points. When
doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs
more rest periods. She had to take a break when she
was only half finished mowing the yard. I try not to make
a scene. I'm a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice,
big, cold glass of fresh squeezed lemonade and just
sit for a while. And, as long as she is making one for
herself, she may as well make one for me too, then
take her break by my hammock. That way we can
talk until I fall asleep.
I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I
support Lucy, but I'm not saying that showing this
much consideration is easy. Many men will find it
difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody knows
better than I do how frustrating women get as they
get older. However, guys, even if you just use a
little more tact and less criticism of your aging
wife because of this letter, I will consider that
writing it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put
on this earth to help each other.
Regards, Ricky
EDITOR'S NOTE: Ricky was rushed to the hospital
Thursday, May 4th. He was found with a Calloway
extra long 50-inch Big Bertha Golf Driver rammed
up his rectum with only two inches of grip showing.
His wife Lucy was arrested, but after the jury read
this letter, they accepted her defense that he
accidentally sat on it. She was released from
custody on Friday.
