Husbands are strange creatures! Any if you get a bunch of married women together for a while, eventually the conversation turn to how “stupid” men are. You know what I mean–the “I can’t see the ketchup, where is it????” Hmmmmmm (as a woman) when I can’t find something in the fridge, I move the jars and bottles around until I find it. I don’t cry for help!!! If the scissors/can opener etc is not in the first drawer, hmmmmmm shut that one, and open the next one down. If I am walking past something that needs to be carried into the room I’m headed for, hmmmmmmm I pick up the dirty glass and take it into the kitchen with me.
My favourite story is from my mom who is 2 floors up from my dad (and probably doing 2 things while getting dinner ready…etc). Dad yells “Maaaarrrrryyyy, what is this??? She DOESN’T yell back “I don’t even know what f-ing ROOM you’re in and what your looking at, because I don’t have x-ray vision!!!!!!!”. Instead, she takes a deep breath, and stops the things she’s working on, and goes down two flights of stairs to look at and identfy the mystery object.
The other stories I hear around work are the “unfinished projects” “My husband decided to rip out the shower and its taking forever!” “He’s building a new shed, and its a mess”. I never have these complaints because Phillip doesn’t do projects. He is not the handiest fish in the sea, (No more Ikea furniture— it makes us both yell) and he doesn’t make tons of money at a high profile job, or drive a fancy car, or we don’t go to Europe (Although we DO go to Epcot –its the closest I’ll get 
). A lot the things that are the “Measure of a Man” by society’s or “those people’s” standards, just don’t fit with my husband.
What he does have, that is beyond any car, talent at deck building, or prestegious career, is a romantic and loving heart. While he was away, he arranged a BEAUTIFUL, and way too expensive bouquet of flowers delivered. He is always playful, caring and just fun to be around. (Don’t get me wrong– he drives me crazy a lot of times, but at the end of every day I’m so happy to have him in my life)
Perfect example was yesterday. We had a houseful of people coming over for a neighbourhood barbeque. I tried to get some tidying done Mon and Wed evenings, but that was met with half hearted enthusiasm. Phillip had a bit more day time, when he could have completed some tasks to help out, but that didn’t get done. (little grrrrrr). So, Saturday morning, I’ve already been out to the grocery store, the beer store and am beginning the clean. Phillip and Jeremy have been taken away from their beds, and then their newspapers, and are now helping out. Phillip is working on the dishes in the kitchen, at his own pace, while I’m in the rest of the upstairs rooms, vacuuming, and straightening everything else. We have music on, as we always do when things are getting done. All of a sudden I hear “AAAAmmmmaaandaaaa”. I know that call, its the “What should I do with this???” stupid question of the day call. Having been trained by living in a house with my dad for so long…. I stop the three things I’m doing and head into the kitchen.
When I get there, Phillip points to the cd player and I listen. “For You”, a song by John Denver that we love is on. This is a wonderful song that I love. Phillip has sang it at weddings and for me a number of times. Here are the lyrics:
Just to look in your eyes again, Just to lay in your arms, Just to be the first one always there for you
Just to live in your laughter, Just to sing in your heart, Just to be everyone of your dreams come true
Just to sit by your windows, Just to touch in the night, Just to offer a prayer each day for you
Just to long for your kisses, Just to dream of your sighs, Just to know that I’d give my life for you.
For you all the rest of my life
For you all the best of my life
For you alone, only for you.
Just to wake up each morning, Just to you by my side, Just to know that you’re never really far away
Just a reason for living, Just to say I adore, Just to know that you’re here in my heart to stay.
For you all the rest of my life
For you all the best of my life
For you alone, only for you.
Just the words of a love song, Just the beat of my heart, Just the pledge of my life, my love for you.
AHhhhh, I wish I wrote that!!! Its such a moving song and I love it, so I start singing along with the song. Phillip reaches out to me and gives me a hug, so of course I hold him back– ’cause I like that. I’m still singing and he’s holding me tighter and tighter. And I realize that he’s crying. Not just a tear or two, but I can feel his chest heaving, which of course, makes me start to cry. So we stood there in the kitchen listening to this beautiful song, neither of us being able to speak or sing, but just holding each other like it was the end of the world. As the song ends, we finally let go of each other, and I look at Phillip, tears running down his cheeks. He kisses me, says “I love you”, and then without another word, turns and get back to the dishes.
That is why I love him!!!
Today Jeremy leaves for 2 weeks. He’s not joining the army or going to the moon. He’s staying with family south of Picton. I think this will be really, really good for him. He’s never had a part time job so the only person that ever “nags” him is me (and his father and grandmother), but still they are the people you live with. We ALL treat the people we live with differently than people we visit or people we work for. (Sometimes better sometimes worse, but always different). He will be working hard, but spoiled by other people, it will be good. (And he’s been all “teenager-y” lately so we could use a break from him, too)
