It is important for men to remember, that as women
grow older it becomes harder for them to maintain t
he same quality of housekeeping as when they
were younger. When you notice this, try not to yell at
them. Some are oversensitive and there ain’t nothing
worse then an oversensitive woman.
.
My name is Doug …. Let me relate how I handled the
situation with my wife, Ernestine.
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When I was laid off from my consulting job and took
“early retirement” in April, it became necessary for
Ernestine to get a full-time job, both for extra income
and for the health benefits that we needed.
.
Shortly after she started working I noticed she was
beginning to show her age. I usually get home from
the Golf Course about the same time she gets home
from work. Although she knows how hungry I am, she
almost always says she has to rest for half an hour
or so before she starts dinner. I don’t yell at her.
Instead, I tell her to take her time and just wake me
when she gets dinner on the table. I generally
have lunch in the Men’s Grill at the club so eating out
is not reasonable. I’m ready for some home cooked
grub when I hit that door…
.
She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished
eating. But now, it’s not unusual for them to sit on the
table for several hours after dinner. I do what I can by
diplomatically reminding her several times each
evening that they won’t clean themselves. I know she
appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to
get them done before she goes to bed.
.
I really think my old business as a consultant helps a lot.
I consider telling people what they ought to do one of
my strong points…
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And speaking of bed, her age really shows up there.
I go out and golf all day, come in dead tired and after a
two hour nap and a good meal, I’m ready, if you know
what I mean. Age has gotten her so bad that she actually
dozes off during lovemaking. But that’s okay. Her
satisfaction in that area is important to a sensitive guy
like me and if she enjoys sleeping during our little trysts,
what the hey…
.
Now that she has gotten older, she does seem to get
tired so much more quickly. Our washer and dryer are
in the basement. Sometimes she says she just can’t
make another trip down those steps. I don’t make a big
issue of this; as she finishes up the laundry the next
evening, I’m willing to overlook it.
.
Not only that, but unless I need something ironed to wear
to the Monday lodge meeting, or to Wednesday’s or
Saturday’s poker club, or to Tuesday’s or Thursday’s
bowling, or something like that, I will tell her to wait until
the next evening to do the ironing. This gives her a little
more time to do some of those odds and ends like
shampooing the dog, vacuuming or dusting…

Also, if I had a really good day on the course and it was
wet and muddy my clubs are a mess, so I let her clean
them, you know….. get the grit off the grips and a little light
Brillo on the club faces at a casual pace. My golf bag is
heavy so I lift it out of the trunk for her. Women are delicate ,
have weak wrists and can’t lift heavy stuff as good as men.
But I did tell her I don’t like to be wakened during my after
golf nap, so rather then bother me, she can put them back
in the trunk when she’s finished.
.
Another symptom of aging is complaining, I think.
For example, she will say that it is difficult for her to find t
ime to pay the monthly bills during her lunch hour. But boys,
we take em for better or worse, so I just smile and offer
encouragement. I tell her to stretch it out over two or even
three days. That way she won’t have to rush so much.
I also remind her that missing lunch completely now and
then wouldn’t hurt her any (if you know what I mean). I like
to think tact is one of my strong points.
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When doing simple jobs, she seems to think she needs
more rest periods. She had to take a break when she was
only half finished mowing the yard. I try not to make a scene.
I’m a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big, cold glass
of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit for a while.
And, as long as she is making one for herself, she may as
well make one for me too, then take her break by my hammock.
That way she can talk with me until I fall asleep.
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I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I support
Ernestine. I’m not saying that showing this much consideration
is easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible.
Nobody knows better than I do, how frustrating women get as
they get older.
.
However, guys, even if you just use a little more tact and less
criticism of your aging wife because of this article, I will consider
that writing it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put on this
earth to help each other…
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EDITOR’S NOTE: Doug died suddenly Thursday, January 3.
He was found with a Calloway extra long 50 inch Big Bertha
Driver rammed up his rectum with only 2 inches of grip showing.
His wife Ernestine was arrested, but the Grand Jury accepted
her defence that he accidentally sat on it and she was released
on Friday, January 4th.