Who Would've Thought?

Yes, that's me with a rake in my hand. Believe it or not, this is not the first time I've used a rake. I used to assume some of the yard work duties when the kids were in school and my husband worked long hours. I discovered that it's much like riding a bicycle - once you've mastered it, the technique stays with you.

Robin was thrilled that I offered to help him while trimming the hedge. Me, not so much. Robin is bossy and in the captain's seat, and I've never been good at taking orders. Especially from an equal, a partner, a husband. While he trimmed, it was my job to rake the loose leaves from the bushes, then rake them all in piles. I also did a little extra and raked up the many pine needles that blanket our yard.

Robin was pleased with my raking ability. But when he added a new responsibility, I failed miserably. He was cutting the hedges to make them even with a certain brick line. That's easy enough until a window or door separates that line and estimating comes into play. He kept telling me I had the wrong brick line. I told him to measure it himself, which he did and finally came out to the same spot I had pointed out. Imagine that.

Then, I was told to go to the street and inspect the bushes from there, making sure they were all symetrical. I announced that he did a magnificent job. I was wrong. His inspection from the street proved that he had made some uneven lines.

"I'm not pleased with it," he said.

"It looks fine," I assured him.

"Stay here and watch as I trim a little more off and tell me what you think."

"It looks fine," I told him.

"It needs to look perfect from the street."

"I don't care how it looks from the street."

"Don't you want it to look good?" he asked.

"I have some major problems at work," I told him. "The shape of the hedges isn't even on my list of important concerns."

He finally pronounced the hedge trimming as presentable and the task was over. Gee, I'm glad we don't work together often.

This past week, Robin taught me - again - how to hang his jeans. He doesn't believe in ironing much of anything and assures me the clothes are fine right out of the dryer if folded properly.

"Take the zipper part and fold in to the first belt loops, then follow the crease to the cuff, shake out any wrinkles, lay it on the bed and smooth it, then fold it. You might have to work with it a little, but they will look fine once on the hanger."

I don't want to work with it a little. I want to be done. And who wears creases in jeans any more?

I remember those distant days when Robin and I were dating. We'd go to dinner, or take a ride on his motorcycle. Then, we went our separate ways and his jeans never ended up in my clothes hamper.

I remember, too, those days of having total responsibility for the yard and pool. I'm grateful that Robin enjoys taking care of those things. He may be bossy and in control, but he's kinda nice to have around.