During our first 365 days together as husband and wife I have noted a few things about my husband that I may have mentioned to you before: he hates having his things moved, he loves photography and he hates it when he finds a near-empty water pitcher in the refrigerator. As a Type A, perfectionist with self-diagnosed Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, it troubled me that the filling-of-the-water-pitcher was not an area in which I excelled.
After a year together, I have discovered it comes down to philosophy. My husband will fill the water pitcher up to the top after every glass poured (he disputes this as his philosophy, but I am observant). I, however, figure that I will be back to the fridge shortly for a refill and I want that water just as cold as I can get it – I am not going to add lukewarm water on top of a perfectly good glass of cold water. As you can imagine, I wait until it’s down to the last glass before I belly that pitcher up to the faucet and fill ‘er up.
You might be amazed that it took me this long to figure out our lack of communication over water pitcher filling philosophy, but I imagine we will continue to learn things about each other.
On the morning of our one-year anniversary I thought it would be fun to tell each other some of the things we had learned in the last year. I listed 15 things, including Water Pitcher Gate, and his pet peeve about moved items. I also said I learned just how much he loves Maple the fur child, how much pride he takes in his work and just how funny he really is – among other things.
I gently asked Terry to list something he had learned about me in the last year.
Silence.
“Well?” I pushed.
“I’m thinking,” he said.
That went on for a few minutes, while he had a thoughtful thinking furrow to his brow.
Finally he said, “Well, I noticed that you take a lot of drugs and you like junk.”
Let me clarify that I do not take a lot of drugs – I take a lot of vitamins. But to him apparently they are “drugs.” And yes, I love rusty old things and furniture that needs TLC.
Armed with my newly discovered epiphany about Terry, I stepped into the kitchen for a glass of water and promptly filled the water pitcher.
“I’m filling the water pitcher!” I hollered through the house, giving myself the giggles in the process.
I thought I was on to something ingenious. The next morning, I texted my husband at work “Just filled the water pitcher.” I planned for this to go on for a week, involving photos, emails and phone calls.
But a funny thing happened that night when Terry returned home from work. He filled a glass of water and right away he put the pitcher under the faucet and turned it on high. He faced away from me and bellowed through the house, “I’m filling the water pitcher!”
Hmm…I did not anticipate that. I think my plan may have backfired.
Ahahahaha… This made me laugh. A lot. Thank you. And I’m glad you made it through the first year nearly unscathed. :)
I am laughing out loud! We can so relate. After 7 years of marriage, we still do things that drive each other batty; I’m guilty of not refilling the ice cube trays, and he’s guilty of leaving the kitchen cupboard doors open. If I tell DH that I’ve re-filled the ice cube trays, he’ll say something like, “you want a cookie?”. I give up. :) Thanks for the laughs!
After 36 years of marriage, my husband finally told me he prefers diet pepsi over diet coke and doesn’t like corn in his soup. Personally, I think he has just changed over the last couple of years and these are a couple of his new pet peeves. Makes life interesting and a marriage that is not boring. You gotta love them!!!!!
You made me laugh until I cried with this one…I just caught up on all your writings; it is something I save for myself when I need cheering up. Here I am. You’ve succeeded. I’ll go back to cleaning my house with a smile on my face. You are the best, Sarah. :)