#799: Who Rocks The Spouse Thing Most Hard?
Saturday, September 1, 2007 The Palinode enters the living room, shouting seeming nonsense.
Palinode: Fatigue! [said the french way: fah-tee-gay]
Schmutzie: Fatty gay?
Palinode: Fatigue! [again, said the french way]
Schmutzie: What is that? Is fatty gay some kind of new sushi that they cull from the gay bar?
Palinode: What, are you not paying attention to me? Are you paying attention to something else?
Schmutzie: Yes, I am paying attention to something I am reading.
Palinode: But I want you to pay attention to me.
Schmutzie: But I am paying attention to something else right now.
Palinode: Tell me about the thing you are paying attention to. Tell me about what it says.
Schmutzie: No, because then I would be telling you about it rather than reading it, and I really want to be reading it right now.
Palinode: But then you would be talking to me.
Schmutzie: Yes, I know that. I'm doing that right now, but what I really want to be doing is not talking, because I need some down time, and we saw your family earlier today, and we will be seeing That Girl later, and I need to not talk in between, because I go crazy.
Palinode: Oh, I understand that.
Schmutzie: Don't you love it when your wife tells you that she doesn't want to talk to you?
Palinode: I love it.
Schmutzie, to herself: I wonder if fatty gay goes well teriyaki.
Reader Comments (4)
A million years ago when I had a guy that I lived with (I'm too old for a boyfriend) he was being a pest and I made fun of him for angling for attention. From that conversation on we adopted a playful, sing-song, I-know-I'm-annoying-you-but habit of just saying "Pay attention to me! Pay attention to meeeee!!!" whenever we wanted attention.
I thought it was just us but apparently all the cool kids are doing it. :)
The other night at dinner, after we'd finished, I overheard someone at the table behind us order "The Ham & Catfish Combo Platter." I turned to my sweetie (as I'm also probably too old to say "boyfriend") and said "Oh, did ya hear that? I could've had Ham & Catfish."
Then he looked me straight in the eyes and said "What's Handicapped Fish?"
I wonder if the BBQ place has any sweet-n-sour sauce...
This makes me recall many times growing up together when I would selfishly demand your attention and recieve much the same response. I am pleased your hubby has enough sense to respect your need, or at least be cute in the attempts. As I now navigate my own marriage I find the temptation to insist upon my own importance, but lessons will be learned. I am happy I had an older sister to teach me the correct response.
Signed: Little Bro of Schmutzie
Nice. I always picture these little back and forths going on between a meerkat and a burrow owl. Does my heart good.