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The hostage in the home
Someone once told me a true test of marriage is to undertake and complete a remodeling project. This is Brad's and my third.
We will be celebrating 100 years in 2099.
My mom called me the other day and told me she thought this should be our last project, "It's just too hard on your marriage."
Actually, working on a project together is a good way to keep the lines of communications open.
No matter how angry you are with each other, you still have to talk -- it's best not to tell your partner to take off a couple of fingers when he cuts a strip of wood for you, but if you do, you're still talking.
I may have led some to believe that I have done virtually everything in the house on my own. In reality, we've done it together.
Just because Brad hasn't hung the same amount of drywall or pounded the same number of nails doesn't mean he hasn't been right there seeing to it that I've gotten things done. It's just natural for him; he's been working in a supervisory position for well over 20 years.
For example, I was in the bathroom Sunday, framing in the walls and ceiling and hanging the drywall. When I needed a little help with the project, I called him downstairs. (What a concept -- ask and you shall receive.) He came down and helped me hang the ceiling panels, then, out of the blue, he told me he thought I should lay down for a while. He thought I was getting a little "cranky." I felt like a 2-year-old being put down for a nap.
My son, Jeremy, has a different way of handling me when I get cranky (which I must admit, happens considerably more than it should). He suggests a trip to Wal-Mart, knowing full well that a trip to Wal-Mart for me is like taking a Valium. If that doesn't work he goes upstairs, puts on the headphones, and plays his favorite video game for the rest of the day. Either way, it gives him the perfect opportunity to get as far away from me as he possibly can.
While I've been insisting that the house be done by the time the family starts arriving in eight days, I've have relaxed my demands -- now I'm hoping for presentable.
Who knows, I may start allowing my hostages a little exercise period as soon as Monday. That way, Brad can get out in the yard and get the lawn taken care off.
I may release him in July.