Aging wife!

It is important for men to remember, that as women
grow older it becomes harder for them to maintain the
same quality of housekeeping as when they were
younger. When you notice this, try not to yell at
them. Some are oversensitive and there's nothing worse
than an oversensitive woman.

My name is Ron......Let me relate how I handled the
situation with my wife, Julie. When I took "early
retirement" last year, it became necessary for
Julie 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. 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 experience as a teacher helps a lot.
I consider telling people what they ought to do; it's
one of my strong points...

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 long 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 than 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 time 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.

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 awhile. And, as long as she
is making one for herself, she may as well make one
for me too, and then take her break by my hammock.
That way she can talk with me until I fall asleep.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way
I support Julie. 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...

Signed, Ron

EDITOR'S NOTE: Ron died suddenly Thursday February
3rd. He was found with a Calloway extra long 50 inch
Big Bertha Driver II rammed up his posterior, with
only 2 inches of grip showing. His wife Julie was
arrested, but the all-woman Grand Jury accepted her
defense that he accidentally sat on it, and died.