Posted by
William D. Dannenmaier on Saturday, February 20, 2010 10:38:44 AM
I had gardening plans, but it was raining outside, which meant that I should be doing all of those indoor duties I’d been putting off until a rainy day. Unfortunately, I didn’t feel like doing them. As I explained to Sheila, “It takes a certain amount of guilt to make me work. Fortunately, I don’t have that amount of guilt yet. So, I’ll go back to playing solitaire.”
On the way to the Cardiac Club the other morning, I muttered “idiot” at another driver. She, who listens occasionally, asked, “Have you ever noticed how many idiots there are?” I said, “Yes, and they are all out on the road when I’m driving.”
Enjoying sun, anticipating snow, I did some of the outside work I needed to do: trimming some bushes, filling in some holes in the lawn. When I finished, the bones in my chest were crackling, even hurting a bit. Sheila saw me rubbing my chest as I finished putting away the tools and asked if I was in trouble. I said, “No. The doctors have told me that if those broken bones in my chest ever puncture one of the arteries, I’ll be dead in one minute. Since the minute is up, I’m fine.” It all depends on how you look at things. Of course, it is possible I was a bit more enthusiastic with the shears and the pick than I should have been.
When Sheila and I retired and returned to the Furnace we investigated the possibility of getting cable television. When we discovered how expensive and limited it was, we decided to use that money to purchase movies instead. Consequently, we have quite a collection – Cary Grants, Agatha Christies, war movies, etc. Recently, exploring, my bride bought a British series called “New Tricks.” We have now purchased the second season. Without doubt these are the best DVDs we have purchased in months, at least since the Hamish Macbeth series which I believe was over a year ago. We like mysteries, we like humor: these stories contain both. Still more surprising, the second season is as good as the first. We recommend them to those either sick of or simply bored by standard television.
For some reason, unfortunately unknown, I slept through last night. Awakening at six, to nudges from cats and “woofs” from dogs, I poked Sheila. “She,” I said, “Our dogs, cats, chickens and birds have not been fed yet. Neither has your husband.” “I’m glad,” she replied, “that you put them in order of importance.”
Deciding to clean up the computer, I was reviewing blogs started and left incomplete. “Dustin” was one I erased, mostly because I’ve forgotten most of what I intended to say. Dustin was one of Sheila’s pet students when she was teaching art. He was also a well known discipline problem to the administration. But he liked Sheila and worked for her. He was not the only member of her art classes considered a problem by others who liked and worked for her. I believe I am responsible for that. By providing her with numbers of self-starting, consequence ignoring, children and their friends, all known as independent spirits to teachers and administrators at the schools they attended, I provided the experiences that permitted her to control independent spirits in her classes.
Sometimes, I get the impression, faint impression, that my bride doesn’t appreciate the depth and breadth of my talents. She was complaining that her hair was hanging in front of her eyes and she needed to go to the beauty shop. Always helpful, I said, “I can cut that for you.” She said she would rather have Clara, her beautician do any cutting of her hair.
Just now, reading the morning news at the computer, my loving bride came up and kissed me on top of the head. “What did I do to earn that” I asked? “Nothing,” Sheila replied,” I just felt like doing it. It’s a good thing you weren’t one of the cats or dogs, I would have gotten hair in my mouth.” Oh well, compliments come at all levels, from the trivial and questionable up. I think She hit the bottom with that one!