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Monday - Trouble comes in pairs
Apr. 7th, 2008 02:09 pmToday on my drive into work, I was thinking about a conversation I had this weekend with my husband.
"I can't believe," he said with amazement, "that I am almost 50 years old and I have a 3 year old." He turned 49 on his birthday last month; we didn't celebrate, per his request. The last birthday he got excited about was his 21st, and he is a firm believer that no birthday after that one is worth the bother.
"If you think we're too much trouble, or that you're too old for the task, I can leave you for a younger man," I said. Not that I would have any idea how to go about finding a replacement mate. Jeff and I have been together so long, I don't know how the dating scene even works anymore. I believe it involves placing an ad on Craig's List, but I'm not sure.
A soft, bemused smile spread across his face. "I wouldn't trade either of you for the world," he said.
I smiled back with my own version of his smile. "Okay, but next time you think we're too much trouble, just remember that I offered."
"Neither of you is too much trouble," he said.
I looked at him and tried to decide if he was lying or just crazy. My husband can't lie worth a damn, so it must be the latter. I know we're a lot of trouble, my little boy and me. We both leave our things laying about the house and don't put them away unless reminded and fussed at. Jeff is never certain how to please us because we change our minds on a whim, and then pretend he misunderstood us in the first place. We both put off bedtime as long as we can, even when we know we need to get up early. We giggle at things that aren't funny to anyone except us, and we both sulk when we don't get our way.
But Jeff thinks we're worth it. I suppose the secret to happiness is not finding a person who lives up to your expectations in a life partner; it's abandoning all expectations, and finding a person who can put up with you just the way you are. If this means they might be a little bit crazy, then so be it.
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"I can't believe," he said with amazement, "that I am almost 50 years old and I have a 3 year old." He turned 49 on his birthday last month; we didn't celebrate, per his request. The last birthday he got excited about was his 21st, and he is a firm believer that no birthday after that one is worth the bother.
"If you think we're too much trouble, or that you're too old for the task, I can leave you for a younger man," I said. Not that I would have any idea how to go about finding a replacement mate. Jeff and I have been together so long, I don't know how the dating scene even works anymore. I believe it involves placing an ad on Craig's List, but I'm not sure.
A soft, bemused smile spread across his face. "I wouldn't trade either of you for the world," he said.
I smiled back with my own version of his smile. "Okay, but next time you think we're too much trouble, just remember that I offered."
"Neither of you is too much trouble," he said.
I looked at him and tried to decide if he was lying or just crazy. My husband can't lie worth a damn, so it must be the latter. I know we're a lot of trouble, my little boy and me. We both leave our things laying about the house and don't put them away unless reminded and fussed at. Jeff is never certain how to please us because we change our minds on a whim, and then pretend he misunderstood us in the first place. We both put off bedtime as long as we can, even when we know we need to get up early. We giggle at things that aren't funny to anyone except us, and we both sulk when we don't get our way.
But Jeff thinks we're worth it. I suppose the secret to happiness is not finding a person who lives up to your expectations in a life partner; it's abandoning all expectations, and finding a person who can put up with you just the way you are. If this means they might be a little bit crazy, then so be it.
