Can I share a secret with you? Only on the condition that you promise not to tell anyone else?
The secret is: “My wife makes me look good”.
Now that it’s out, it’s all too late. I can’t take it back. That’s why it is so important for you to keep this information to yourself. You see, I always like to take the credit for everything myself. You know that song, “Lord it’s hard to be humble when you’re perfect in every way!” I helped write those lyrics, along with many friends of my generation, and I can assure you, I can still sing it with great gusto all these years later.
What am I on about this time? Exactly what I said, ‘My wife makes me look good’. She is the one typing this article for you. I am a one fingered typist that thinks a file name is something you stick on a filing cabinet. I hate to deflate your high opinion of me, but she also often helps me rephrase my words to help me make more sense. In fact she is the one that brings all the balance to our relationship.
I have the tendency to be a Type A personality, that is someone who works long hours and has an obsessive, almost maniacal commitment to the job. Dr John Tickle defines Type A people as:
- Those people who tend to hate queues and especially hate red traffic lights. They go down several side streets and get there at the same time but at least they were doing something.
- Those who are generally considered ambitious and are often irritated by people who talk really slowly.
- Males who always push the flush button on the toilet way before they finish peeing.
- Those who might have lunch at their desk, but they have the phones hanging off their heads, piles of paper on the desk surrounded by organised chaos and general busyness.
My wife probably has a bit of Type A also, otherwise she would not be sacrificially helping me every day of the week for the past 38 years. Generally speaking, most women are not Type A personalities which I thank God for every day. That could also be the reason women tend to live longer than men. However, it might be noted that married men live longer than single men. Maybe it’s the braking effect of a wise woman telling their husband to abandon Type A behaviour – which brings me to my next point.
Some time ago my wife could see that I (we) were running ourselves into the ground and so she borrowed a friend’s onsite caravan for the weekend to take some time out. Our daughter brought a girl friend and we drove down to beautiful Cudmirrah together. We watched some funny movies on DVD. ‘Bushwhacked’ is a great family movie if you ever get a chance to see it. We rode around the lake on pushbikes together. We fed kangaroos together. We walked along the beach together and even rescued some stranded sea-life mussels together. Generally speaking, we did everything Type A personalities never do. We rested and just had some fun together, and it was all my wife’s idea. That’s the part I don’t like, because us Type A’s need to have all the good ideas.
Probably by now you realise that I have a problem. I’m sure you don’t have these sorts of Type A problems, but if you do, get married to someone who is more intelligent than yourself and just say as the old man (105 years old) did on TV who was celebrating his eightieth wedding anniversary. When asked what the key was to his longevity and lasting marriage he replied, “The secret is to always say ‘Yes dear”!
Lovework
“Yes dear”.
Practice those words over and over again in front of the mirror and remember to do what your wife says, especially when it comes to taking time out.
Yours for taking time out
Warwick Marsh
PS The Absent Premiere “Get Fatherhood Back” Movie tour is gaining massive momentum. The response from those who have seen the movie has been fantastic. We now have 19 screenings listed where Justin Hunt, the director, will be appearing with the movie screening. There are also an extra 16 screenings up until 30 June without Justin Hunt. Check out the screening times at www.absentmovie.com.au to see if there is a screening near you.
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