My wife is glad the weekend has arrived, but to me it’s just another day of retirement. Yesterday, the painters finally finished our lighter look, just in time to get our dining room back together for dinner guests tonight. One of my wife’s co-workers is joining the retirement club and she wants to cook a proper send-off for him and his wife. We’ll give up “Movie Night” to accommodate our guests. I’m in charge of coats and wine, two duties that I can’t possibly screw-up. I tend to be a bit more casual in my habits, while she prefers a more formal approach to entertaining. This includes actually hanging the coats up in the closet rather than throwing them over the chair in my office. A classic example of he does…she does.

She likes Broadway shows, while I prefer sporting events. She orders white wine, preferably a Sancerre, and I find red wine to be more compatible with my aging digestive system. She favors pampering guests with dinner at home, and I would much rather meet them at a restaurant, even if it means picking up the tab. I enjoy listening to the blues, but she finds it depressing. She loves to cook, while I find it stressful in a once-a-week effort to understand her passion.  She saves and organizes recipes just I as collect baseball cards. She’s a neat-freak as opposed to me, a mess just waiting to happen. I’m a homebody and she’s a go-go girl. Yet, we’re madly in love with each other.

I do some cleaning, but it rarely meets her standards. She does everything to perfection and this is a definite attraction for me. I’m the “Under Dog” of the “Over Achiever.” Similarly, she always dresses up to go out on the town then frowns at my retirement uniform. She’s always been the gentle shove I need to improve and has made me a better person through our marriage. Managing me has to be exhausting work on her part, but she does it out of love. Though after years of training, I still leave cabinet doors open, doors unlocked, and closets cluttered. Last but not least, she’s an optimist that often counters my pessimistic attitude and would NEVER use the word never. Considering all my flaws, I’m lucky to have her.

Never Say Never

I often wonder?
How you and me.
With different tastes,
Ever came to be?

You never want to go,
Where I want to go.
You never want to see,
The same show.

On simple things,
We can’t agree.
We always tend,
To disagree.

Opposites attract,
The experts say.
It’s your way,
Or the Highway.

But you’re mostly right,
When I think you’re wrong.
It’s through compromise,
We both get along.

I avoid conflict,
While you stir it up.
I can stay calm,
When you suddenly erupt.

You never want to go,
Where I want to go.
I say yes,
But expect a no.

She would object,
To my use of “NEVER.”
“Never say never,”
On any endeavor.

You really want to go?
Where I want to go?
I’ve made some bad choices,
You’ve come to know.

You always need to go,
Where I want to go.
Together we share,
A passionate glow. 

But I’m better off,
Following you.
My love has proven,
To be loyal and true.

Our River of Romance,
continues to flow.
Plus, you seem to know,
Where I want to go.

We seem to be wired,
From an opposite pole.
But working together,
Towards OUR goal.

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