A husband and wife are sitting in the den after dinner. He is reading a newspaper and she is sitting at a desk writing a letter. In the background a stereo is playing Chopin piano music. She turns her chair around to face him.
She: (stops writing) I’ve been thinking. I want to buy you a new wristwatch.
He: A new watch? I have a watch, it’s old, but it still works. Thanks, but one is enough for me.
She: It’s not for now. I want you to have something to remember me by.
He : In that case you can buy me a gold Rolex. I’ll remember you real good.
She: You don’t’have to remember me that much.
He: (Lowers the newspaper to his lap) What’s this remembering business? Are you trying to tell me something?
She: Why do you have to have to read a meaning like that into a simple offer? I just want you to have something to remember me.
He: If I go first you will have wasted your money.
She: (She ignores that) Another thing. You will say Yarhzeit for me when the time comes, the way you do for your parents on the anniversary of their death? That is if your second wife won’t object.
He: I can’t believe it! Is that what this is all about? Forget it, there won’t be a second wife.
She: Every man needs a wife to take care of him.
He: It will be expensive but I’ll take my shirts to the laundry.
She: Have I been such a bad wife that you would not want to be married again?
He: Mmmm. let me think about that. (He pretends to think). No, I wouldn’t say that. It’s just that to be fair to another wife I’d have to show her that I care and I can’t see myself wanting to put that much into a wife again.
She: That’s nice.
He: Besides, considering my age and whom I would marry it could end up that I’d have to take care of her. To paraphrase your favorite poet: “In caring there is responsibility”.
She: You might have to take care of me some day.
He: That’s different. You’ve earned that right.
She: Fifty-six years is a long time. What was the best part?
He: There was no best part. It was all good.
She: You don’t mean that. A marriage is never “good” all the time. Like the time we quarreled when you wanted to go to
He: The whole was better than the parts – satisfied now?
She: I knew it! Some parts were not good. (She laughs.) Remember the Mikado we saw in
He: I remember the seats were $1.70 and you sat next to the English lady who was married to the Lord High Executioner. It was opening night and people were all dressed up in and it was televised. That was the best Mikado I ever saw. It was a good trip. (They fall silent).
She: One more thing. We talked about it but we never did anything about the cemetery lots. Shouldn’t we do something now?
He: Well, with both kids living north of
She: Remember to talk to the kids next time we see them.
He: Besides, at the rate our friends are dying off, it’ll get pretty lonely around here. We should probably move up there sometime soon.
She: I’ve been thinking about that, too. (they fall silent).
She: I’m finished interrupting. You can go back to your newspaper. (he resumes reading, she returns to her letter).
April 3, 1990
More Later, Joe
PS: In my previous blogs I have shared excerpts and essays like this one, from my past. My new book entitled, MY FIVE CAREERS: Increasing Brain Power and Promoting Longevity through Strenuous Exercise of the Mind, includes and is based on many of the ideals and illustrations posted at Joe's Place. Look for the book to be released in the Fall. It will be available in paperback at Amazon. I'll let you know more later. Joe
