Stories from the Stringam Family Ranches of Southern Alberta

From the 50s and 60s to today . . .



Thursday, October 27, 2016

Do It Yourself

Let's run through this again . . .

I'm a people-pleaser.

Or try to be.
Call it a weakness.
But I've always had this compulsion to make everyone around me as comfortable as possible.
Most of the time, it's fun.
Occasionally, not.
Let me tell you about it . . .
When I was first married, my greatest wish was to see my new Husby happy, comfortable and well-fed.
I worked hard at it.
Fortunately, he is a kind and considerate man, so all was well.
I had meals ready at meal times.
Kept the laundry done.
Cleaned the house.
Ran errands.
This went on for some time.
Then, I began to realize that some of the 'errands' were jobs he could have done equally well himself.
And probably should.
Case in point:
Whenever he would use a tissue ( Kleenex), he would then hand me said used tissue and I would hunt for a garbage to throw it in.
True story.
Can everyone say “gullible”?
This went on for nearly three years.
Then, one day, we were at a reception.
My Husby used a tissue and turned and held it out to me.
Now, the normal people-pleasing Diane would have taken it and found a place to dispose of it.
The new Diane looked at the tissue, then at my Husby and said, “Throw it out yourself.”
Whereupon (good word) he laughed and stuck it into his pocket. “Finally caught on, did you?” he said.
And that's when I hit him.
Oh, not hard.
Just enough for him to know that I was . . . displeased.
And that he could run his own stupid errands from now on.
Ha!
There.
I said it.
Kleenex, anyone?
P.S. On occasion, he still tests the waters. The waters still refuse to throw out his used tissues.
Forty years and counting...

12 comments:

  1. Ha ha, sounds like you two are perfect for each other. You may make it another 40 years.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. As long as he doesn't try to hand me another used kleenex . . . :)

      Delete
  2. Well, at least he has a good attitude about it when you refuse to do said errand. Mine has gotten so used to me doing things, that now, I get a sideways look when I say "No do it yourself." I may have created a monster and now slowly trying to reverse what I've created. It seems to be working. Baby steps...baby steps. Haha

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Used tissues seems to be a good place to start! :) Just FYI...

      Delete
  3. There are times when the hubs asks me to do something and I turn my patented blank stare on him, blink slowly and say 'Wha....at?'.

    ReplyDelete
  4. I love this story!! And it sounds like maybe you are having an anniversary? If so, best wishes :)

    ReplyDelete
  5. Love it.
    I am told that my first sentence was 'do it self'.
    And I love that your waters still refuse to accept used tissues.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. I guess we independent girls have to create independant men...

      Delete
  6. Haha, funny story, Diane :-) Now I'm thinking about my own 'people pleasing tendencies' in my marriage....hmmm......My hubs won't be very happy that I read your blog today, that's for sure! ;-)

    ReplyDelete

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