To Thine Ownself
Just Admit It
Parking is my weak spot. I’m not good at it. I like to think I’m a very good driver (cue your Dustin Hoffman voice, if you know you know), but actually putting the car in place, yeah, that pushes me to my limit.
My family delights in my dilemma. As I pull into an empty parking lot (because we always try to be early, ask my wife) my kids will start the “Come on Dad, you can do this we believe in you”. Yes, it certainly is patronizing, no, it doesn’t bother me one little bit. I’ll take praise and encouragement when and where I can find it.
I can’t speak for my wife, but I will anyway. She is my polar opposite. I question her driving decisions and have learned to sit in the passenger seat and find a faraway spot I can stare at. It helps me keep my big mouth shut. There are things you should not say as a husband like “We could have gotten into the turn lane a quarter mile back instead of 12 feet before the turn” but I love my wife and value our marriage, so I find my faraway spot.
But man can she park! I mean smooth as silk, quickly, slowly, on a hill, in the rain, probably during an earthquake. Yes, I am proud. Attaway honey!
I asked on my page on Facebook what are you not good at, and as always, I love how people will step up and share these things. I think we all learn that no matter what we struggle with, we are not alone.
Jennifer says putting sentences together. She didn’t specify if the sentences were verbal or written. As you can tell by reading my posts, I tend to battle both myself.
Susan feels that she may be an anomaly because she despises all forms of shopping. And her husband is passionate about it, wants to wander for hours just….looking. Love conquers all.
Cooking is Sandra’s brittle area. She doesn’t want to cook, doesn’t like to cook, doesn’t want to consider cooking. I wonder how she feels about green eggs and ham? I get this, I am the cook in my family, and I hate the question “What’s for dinner?” I would rather be asked, “Hey would you like to know 5 things I really don’t like about you?”
You guys tend to point out more of my weak spots without realizing it. Valerie claims to not be able to put anything together. If my kids ever read this they will howl in laughter at the thought of the old man’s trials and tribulations of trying to put together any piece of furniture, like shelves or cabinets. If I live a bad life I will wake up in hell, otherwise known as IKEA.
Simple addition trips Kristy up. She’s a nurse, and can do algebraic equations and dosage amounts in a snap, and works out percentages in her head. Then has to use her fingers to do addition and subtraction. I promise I’m trying not to laugh………..but come on.
How does this ring for you? Describing how to do something. Jennifer writes that she knows what she’s trying to instruct someone to do, but creating and saying the words? Ooof! Who in the world hasn’t been on that crazy train? “You know, the thing, grab the thing and turn, er, flip, I mean, twist, uh, your hand goes like this!” Those are actual words I have said with my own mouth.
We can get specific. Maggie can’t cook chicken. That’s why God invented Chik-Fil-A, Mags.
I don’t do plants, Barbara explains. I can add a second story to a house, rebuild a car, basically fix anything. But plants? No, no thank you.
Another young lady named Susan, not to be confused with the early Susan, would like you to keep all the puzzles to yourself, she has no need for them.
I get the puzzle hate. The real puzzle to me is why anyone would subject themselves to over a thousand pieces of frustration.
So take heart. I’m sure you relate to at least one of these weaknesses. And if you don’t see yours, share it with me. It’s date night with my wife, and I have to decide if she should suffer through my parking, or should I suffer through her driving. Good thing we love each other.