The Infamous Favor...
Raise your hand if you have ever heard, “Hey hon, can you do me a favor?” Probably one of the most frequently used phrases of our time. I certainly know that I get this one at least 10 times a week. I’m a favor doing mo-fo. It’s funny to think about my reaction to this phrase and how it has changed over the years. Early on in our courting period, the answer would have been a resounding, “absolutely” or “you name it” or “no problem”. Soon after we were married, the response turned to a simple “yes”. A little later on, it morphed to “Yes”, but with a hint of annoyance and/or inquisitiveness. Now, it has devolved into a “What?” accompanied by raised eye brows and a set of perfectly pursed lips.
Now, there’s a perfectly good explanation for the change in response. First, I think that I have wizened with age. I no longer blindly agree to anything. I love my wife, til death do us part, but I know her far too well to blindly agree to anything anymore. Second, my english skills have improved. You will notice that the operative part of said phrase is “a” as in one or a single favor. I have realized that this is really just a bit of trickery on the part of my wife to get me hooked into a string of actions that she and more pointedly me do not want to do. Third, I can’t help but think, my wife is in co-hoots with my good natured-ness to foil any plans I may have to partake in a bit of rest and/or relaxation. Finally, I know that this is almost never the end of the favor asking. There are generally many more requests waiting in the depths of my wife’s beautiful head.
So, my parting words to you women is stop asking for “a” favor. The jig is up, we know your motives and we’re not that gullible. We, at least I, would rather know everything that you would like me to do without all of the suspense and surprise. I want to know so that I have an understanding of how many “brownie points” i am going to earn for my labor. Will it be enough to play video games for an hour, go to the bar on Sunday, the impending Bears playoff game, or the mother of all point uses, the weekend boys trip to god knows where.
Fellow men, this post is for you, it’s a warning and a reminder to always ask “what” when faced with this, the most impossible of questions. It isn’t a bad idea to follow the “what” with a “why” after she divulges the favor you are about to do. Also, keep a journal of your brownie points and activities performed to achieve those points, it may just come in handy.
Stay tuned for more tips by Trav...
Monday, October 6, 2008
