Reptile Forum, Reptile Classifieds - CaptiveBred

[Stuart]

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 Dave. Let me relate how I handled the situation with my wife,

Martha. When I was laid off from my consulting job and took early
retirement
in April, it became necessary for Martha 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 I 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 Martha, 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 Dave

EDITOR'S NOTE
Dave died suddenly Thursday, May 19th. 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 Martha was arrested, but after the jury

read this letter, they accepted her defence that he accidentally sat on
it.

She was released from custody on Friday.
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