Abrupt Little LOVE (A Mama Kat Writing Prompt)

The Mama Kat prompt that I ended up with this week, thanks to the randomness of random.org is the best kind of writing prompt - one I have no clue how to address! It is number five: What is something you could stand to learn from your significant other?

It is important to understand one thing about my husband to understand the rest of this post. When I needed a date to the Huey Lewis and the News concert in 1987, after my original date backed out, my friend who offered to set us up warned me, "Wayne is an Abrupt Little Sh*t," and I said, "oh, that's okay, I need someone to go with [translation - I didn't want to get stuck with the cost of the ticket!]."

Things didn't look good when he showed up at my door, beer in hand. There was not going to be any old-fashioned chivalry here. After the concert date, we continued to spend time together. The friendship evolved into romance. Throughout our friendship, through the living together, my subsequent ending of the relationship and moving to New York, and our reunion/marriage, there has always been a huge contrast between Wayne's relative refusal to gladhand just for the sake of gladhanding, and my almost deferential approach to most social interactions. Between his (relative) bravado and my (relative) lack of confidence. Between his assumption that his opinion matters (and is right, of course!) and mine that my opinion may not be that important in the long run and is probably wrong.

What is something I could learn from my spouse? A little more bravado, a little less deference.

Lessons I may learn yet through "The Power of Love."

Has Anyone Seen Mom? (A Mama Kat Writing Prompt)

That Kat, she really knows how to bring couples together. Take, for instance, prompt #3 of this week's five choices:

Something you do that drives your significant other crazy.

When I sent my husband an email to tell him that I needed help with my blog, I figured that the "crazy-making" thing would end up being "how you always email me with such minute details of our life." When we sat down later that evening to actually discuss the topic, I hinted (strongly) that this would be a perfect "guest posting" opportunity for him. No such luck. But he did give me two ... not just one but two ...  crazy-makers. After 18.5 years of marriage I suppose he is entitled to two.

I have a lot to do, freelance project under deadline, day job, exercise, cat's in the cradle and the kids have the flu and all that, so here they are. No analysis, no defense, just the cold hard crazy-making facts. (Feel free, however, to leave comments of support, agreement with him (if you must), or anything that may arrive in my inbox and make me think "yay! someone read my blog").

Number One

In this image of my dresser, you see (among other things) my daughter's "House of Representatives" patch from when she was a page in the House ... two years ago ... a tin I bought at Christmas to use for a gift card .... a spool of brown ribbon I bought a couple of weeks ago for Tenley's dance costume, and of course a big green (Christmas) pen. The issue? I don't pick up after myself. It's true.

Number Two

Apparently, my husband and children have a running joke about the fact that it takes me twice as long to do anything as they expect. For example, a ten minute trip to Publix for one item turns into an hour-long odyssey.

One thing that does not drive me crazy is comments. Bring 'em on! But if you're planning to refer me to Hoarders after seeing learning about my "picking up after myself" issue, please let me know in advance. I think I need to run out for milk.