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Pastimes : Laughter is the Best Medicine - Tell us a joke -- Ignore unavailable to you. Want to Upgrade?

To: Arthur Radley who wrote (24100)	7/18/2002 8:38:50 AM
From: Guardian	Respond to of 62549

It is important for men to remember that as women grow older it becomes > harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping 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 chucked my job and took > early retirement a year ago, it became necessary for Nancy to get a > full-time job both for extra income and for health insurance benefits > that we need. She was a trained lab tech when we met thirty some years > ago and was fortunate to land a job at the local medical center as a > phlebotomist. 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 that 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 the 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 overlook it. Not only that, but unless > I need something ironed to wear to the Monday's 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 to not 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 tell her that as long as she is making one for herself, she may > as well make one for me 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 that 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 do how frustrating women can > become as they get older. My purpose in writing this is simply to > suggest that you make the effort. I realize that achieving the exemplary > level of showing 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. Author Unknown"