It is the pattern of life for the Taylers that Howard works all day at Novell and then spends significant portions of his evenings and weekends working on Schlock and sometimes decompressing with movies or videos. This means that the lion’s share of the childcare and housework is my job. It is a division of labor so that we can jointly accomplish the things that are important to us both. The major reason it works for me is that I know that any time I really need Howard he’ll drop everything to help me. I’ve seen him do it time and again. The knowledge lets me manage just a little bit more and hang on longer without help because I know that the moment I ask, he’ll drop his stuff and help me with mine.
All of this comes up because he’s doing just that for me in a big way twice this week. Yesterday I hosted part of a garden party for the women’s organization in our church. 30 women in our neighborhood descended on our backyard to eat and visit. I’ve been prepping the yard for this for a month now. Inevitably yesterday arrived with a list of tasks still to-do rather than done. Despite the fact that I told Howard I wasn’t counting on help from him, also despite the fact that he’s sick, Howard came home from work early and pitched in to help. Because of his help the party went much more smoothly. I was able to relax and enjoy the party because Howard took care of all the little things like directing traffic and keeping the water pitchers full.
Tomorrow morning Howard is again taking time off of work to drive me for my MRI. He gets to sit in the lobby and be bored for an hour or more. Then he gets to load his druggy wife into the car and drive her home. Not a lot of fun for Howard, he’s got unpleasant memories of my past MRIs to dodge as well.
Both of these events combine to create a hit on the buffer right at the time when he is trying to get it back to a healthy level. I know that adds stress to his life for which I feel really guilty. And grateful. Because I’ve really needed him this week and he’s been right there. So I guess this entry is the best way I can think of to show him thanks. I’m telling his friends what a great guy he is and how much I love him.
Thank you Howard!
Cross post…
Cross post this baby to the Schlock community…
They wanna see this…
Well, they should wanna see this…
And man I like it when you tell how your hubby drops everything to help you…
That is exactly what marrige is supposed to be…
A well-trained spouse… 😉
She left out the part where I caught barf in my bare hands last night.
See, now you’re just bragging…
BARE HANDS
BARE HANDS!
I CAUGHT BARF in my BARE HANDS!!
If that don’t yield up some bragging rights, nothin’ does.
Re: BARE HANDS
Not a bit of bragging…
The first catch gets you “Dad really must love you” points (and yes, allows for a small amount of bragging rights), but after than that, you loose points in the “Smart enough to at least get a large mixing bowel” caragory (and kills all bragging rights)…
Sorry man…
How’s your cold, anyways?
Thank you for the barf catching. Thank you for the Daddy Voice. Anything else I forgot?
Nope, that covers it.
That covers it.
You’re welcome. Anytime. 🙂
You know, one of these days we’re going to have to find some opportunity to meet you folks. You are good people. You both are On The Side of Light.
I know I’ve said it before, but …
You’re a good husband, Mr. Tayler. 🙂
Thank you so much for letting us watch your Love Story in progress. May it play to an appreciative audience forever!
Only a BIG man has hands big enough for this labor of love.
Rimshot
Ba-dum BUM!
<AOL>
Howard’s a neat guy, and Sandra must be just as neat.
You know all those people cynical about marriages and love?
They need to read both your journals, that’s what they need to do. Forget The Newlyweds – this is the stuff that people ought to be seeing.
She loves you,
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
She loves you,
Yeah, yeah, yeah.
And with a love like that, you know you should be glad…