Getting On My Husband’s Last Nerve: Yet Another Discovered Talent!

“They say all marriages are made in heaven, but so are thunder and lightning.”
― Clint Eastwood

Pondering the woman he married…

Shockingly, I sometimes get on my husband’s nerves. I suspect you’re thinking that’s ridiculous, but, yeppers, apparently, I manage. In my defense, I used to be a lot less, um, observed, because he was at work, or at choir, or having lunch with favorite people, or window shopping at Menards.

(I just realized that at Menards, a person can actually be window shopping as opposed to merely browsing. I suppose he or she could “get down to brass tacks” too if the right aisle is taken. Huh.)

Menard’s Junkie

Anyway, now that my love is retired he has decided to hang around the house more. Good for him, I guess, but bad for me. Since I do most of my writing/photography/silk scarf making from home there is less space to do what I love to do without him offering up comments, suggestions, critiques, and frowny facial expressions. Lots and lots of those frowny facial expressions. For instance…

Anyone who lives in Minnesota knows that our weather is about as moody as a hormonal wolverine. Hot, cold, wet, dry, windy, foggy. At times we get all of it in a span of 24 hours. I guess what I’m saying is that it is hard to plan ahead since one never knows what might be coming attcha.

Therefore, I like to keep a bag or two of ice in the freezer. Our refrigerator has an ice maker but on those super hot muggy days it doesn’t keep up with demand. Happiness is walking out to the freezer and filling my glass of not-iced- tea with reserve ice cubes. Cool, decadent, luxury! However, those store-bought ice cubes drive my sweetie crazy. Our conversation usually goes something like this:

Me, returning from the grocery store with a bag of ice.
Hubby, wearing aforementioned frowny face, “Why did you buy ice?”
Me: “Because it’s 95 degrees out, and I am thirsty.”
Hubby: “Why do you buy ice when we can make it?”
Me: “I know we can make ice. I also know we don’t make extra ice. Therefore we will run out of ice. I figure the 99 cents spent to have a bag on hand is worth it.”
Hubby shakes head with frowny face “frozen” in place. Hahahahaha.

Reserve Ice, hahahahaha

Here’s another example:

In the past, pre-hubby retirement, the UPS driver and I had a lovely relationship. He’d ring the bell, drop off a package or two, and I’d wave in appreciation. Smiles all around. The UPS driver had a job, and Amazon was scraping by because I. Was. Helping. The. Economy!

Now that my stud muffin is at home, when the doorbell rings he automatically looks at me. “What did you buy now?”
Me: “Not sure. It’s probably that book on…”
Hubby: We do have a library in town.”
Me: “Yeah, but I want this one as a reference for…”
Hubby: “Maybe it’s time to put a moratorium on book buying.”
Me: “Can I get you some more ice for your lemonade?”
Hubby, making frowny face.

Do I miss the good old days? The ones where my every action wasn’t up for discussion? YES.

Am I glad he is learning to adapt to retirement after a 50+ year career? Yes.

Will I stop buying reserve ice cubes? Heck no.
I have books to read, ice tea to sip, and an economy to keep alive.