INTELLIGENT CONVERSATION

Years ago the genius and I each took a do-it-yourself-at-home version of a compatibility test and discovered what we already suspected: at the top of the list for both of us was intellectual compatibility. In other words, the one area of our marriage we both valued above all others was our ability to hold intelligent, stimulating conversations with each other. We have spent many hours discussing politics, religion, parenting, the daily news, etc. Even when we talk about the mundane everyday events of our lives, both of us are always interested in what the other one has to say. We may not always agree, but we almost always find pleasure in our discussions.

That said, I am now beginning to wonder if all that is changing. Lately, it seems, that the subject foremost in our minds is the elimination habits of Rufus! When one of us takes the dog out for a walk, we feel obligated to report to the other what the results were. The accounts may go something like the following:

1) “He finally peed after walking all the way down to the end of the street.”
2) “He peed three times – must have been a lot of dogs out this morning.”
3) “He had a long pee! He must have had a ton of water to drink today!”

Of course, the best thing to hear is “He did both!”

Unlike Jesse, Rufus is not the kind of dog one can just take out into the yard and expect him to do his business and go back in. Oh no, he has to piddle around (no pun intended) a long time before he decides to go, even if it’s first thing in the morning. And honestly, with my imagination the way it is, in wanting him to get it over with, I find myself having to go and can hardly make it back into the house.

This morning was the cruncher, though. The genius left before I woke up to keep an early appointment but took Rufus outside so I could sleep in. After his meeting, he called to give me a report on Rufus and what he did, or more exactly what he didn’t do.

After I hung up, I began to think about this latest subject we seem to be fixated on and decided that perhaps we need to get back to religion or politics. It seems that we are stuck in an intellectual rut!!