marriage and my new clothes
“And she woke—the most beautiful and intelligent of women,” I said just before our morning kiss.1
“Good morning,” she smiled noticing my attire. I’d already stepped into the day. “Honey?”
“Yes, Sweet Cheeks?”
“Please don’t wear your new clothes every day,” she said softly.
“I’m sorry. What?”
“Your new clothes—please save them for when we go out to dinner or have people over or things like that,” she recommended. “Don’t wear them out by wearing them around the house.”
I smiled short of a laugh. She smiled back. I work at home and she’s a high school art teacher on holiday break.
“I thought I’d try to look nice while you’re home,” I said.
“That’s kind of you. But you know how you are.”
A subject before his queen, “And Hotness, how is this that I am?”
“You finally got some new clothes. I’m just suggesting we save them for going out to dinner and things.”
“So you’d like me to wear my old clothes around the house when you’re here,” I said with a squint.
“Just so they don’t get all stretched out and pilled and things.” She half-smiled. “You know what I’m saying. You’re a smart guy.”
“So sweet,” I silently shared with a half-smile of my own.
Working from home, I don’t always shower, shave, and tidy up as I did pre-pandemic. When it goes on for more than a day, my lady suggests a clean-up. “You look good with a shower and a shave,” playing to my vanity. “Younger too.”
35 years together, I thought I’d make a first run at a little domestic stand-up for two. “To be sure I understand. You’d like me to wear older clothes when I’m around the house, stay clean and fresh beneath those clothes, and save any new clothes for events or guests. Then, when my new clothes become old clothes I can wear those around the house at that time. Is that right?”
“You know you wear things into the ground before getting new things,” she explained. “I’m just trying to help you keep your clothes nicer for special occasions and when we go out.”
“This is really great. How about I write this up and we share it with people so they can have as wonderful a marriage as us. Guys can laugh and you’ll become an icon for wives of sloppy husbands.”
She laughed. I smiled and went to change into something less sexy.
I love the morning.
I tend to be the first to wake up. I try to say something fun to start the day unless we’re in one of our nasty fights that no one our age should have. (I can be asshole.)
For the last couple of years, we also try to have a standing morning hug, kiss, and “Good morning. I love you.” before we step into the day. Given we can still have nasty fights at our age, I’m not sure it’s helpful but it feels like a good bet.