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Retirement Thoughts
Dear
Friends:
> > > > 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, we 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 > > April, it became necessary for Nancy to get a full-time job, both > for > > extra income and for the health benefits that we need. It was > shortly > > after that that I noticed how she was beginning to show her age. > > I usually get home from fishing or golf 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, instead I tell her to take her time and just > wake me when > > she finally does get supper on the table. > > She used to do 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. > > Now that she is older she seems to get tired so much more > quickly. Our > > washer and dryer are in the basement. 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 club or to Wednesday's or Saturday's poker game or to > Tuesday's > > ballgame or to 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 a really good day of > fishing, > > this allows her to gut and scale the fish at a more leisurely > pace. > > Nancy is starting to complain a little occasionally. 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. She > > had to take a break when she was only half finished mowing the > yard. 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 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 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. 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. > > Fraternally yours, > > Bob > > > > > > (Bob's funeral was on Saturday, January 25th. Nancy was acquitted > Monday, > > January 27th. ) --- Outgoing mail is certified Virus Free. Checked by AVG anti-virus system (http://www.grisoft.com). Version: 6.0.520 / Virus Database: 318 - Release Date: 18/09/2003 |
