Dear Crabby,
Every time I use my wife’s car, it is not only out of gas, but also out of windshield washer fluid. Is it her responsibility to take care of this, or as the man of the house, am I supposed to do it for her?
Sincerely,
Guy Chivalry
Dear Mr. Chivalry,
You couldn’t have hit the nerve more directly if you tried! I have steamed about that for years. Mrs. Crabby is quite a bit shorter than me and I can’t tell you how many times I have jumped into my car after she has used it, only to whack my head on the roof and then hit my knee on the steering wheel because she has moved the seat all the way forward. After I finally get the seat moved off the dashboard and back in place, I try to back out and realize every mirror has been moved as well. Once all the mechanicals are back in place and I think I’m all set, I find that Celine Dion and Neil Diamond have taken the place of my usual talk radio! I would change it, but the strong smell of hairspray makes my eyes water so much I can barely see the knobs. Fortunately, the scent of hairspray is quickly replaced with the smell of coffee as mine is dumped on the floor as I pull out. It turns out that my cup holders are the perfect place for her to stash her extra supply of Kleenex! Once my vehicle is back to normal, I usually discover that the gas tank is almost empty. So, I stop and take care of that too. But you know what? It gives me something to do and I feel like taking care of the car is my duty anyway. The good Lord knows that I am of no use in the kitchen, and I certainly am not very handy when it comes to cleaning the house either. So as long as I can maintain the car and handle the outside of the house, that little woman does a great job handling the rest. And I know it may be hard for you to imagine, but believe me when I tell you that I am not always a picking-up-after-myself kind of guy. If we asked her, I am guessing Mrs. Crabby may have a complaint or ten about me and my domestic habits as well. Anyway, it’s about learning to adapt and fill your role. Try to loosen up, and expect to have the same chores each time you get back in your car; it will all work out fine. Good luck, and let me know how it goes.
Sincerely, Dear Crabby
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