My Lady Wonder Wench is sitting in my big black comfortable leather pappa chair in the living room tonight. Actually she’s sleeping after a very tough day…and I don’t want to disturb her…so I’m sitting here in her usual spot on the couch…with her needlepoint stuff and her little portable dvd player. It’s funny how changing where you usually sit in a living room can actually make the whole house seem a little out of balance. It’s a little like that fold your hands thing I use to tell people about when I was doing seminars. Its about little changes in what you do that make you feel a whole lot different. You might like to try it. Just fold your hands like you ordinarily do. If you‘re right handed, your left thumb is probably on top. Now try folding them with the other thumb on top. It’s different. Strange isn’t it ? Here’s another simple idea… try combing your hair with the part on the other side from the way you usually comb it. You almost can’t get your hand to do that. And when you look in the mirror, you look like somebody else…and you almost feel like somebody else. Which somedays…isn’t so bad.
Of course, there’s a kind of comfort in doing the same things you do all the time…the same way. But the problem is that you can get into ruts if you’re not careful. I don’t like ruts. You can squeeze all the juice in your love affair out of the ruts in your life if you’re not careful. Especially if you’ve been together for a long time…which is the case for lots of Louie-Louie generation folks.
By the way, you are a Louie-Louie Generation person if you find yourself humming that Louie-Louie song every once in a while, and you have a kind of Louie Louie attitude…which may be best described by Big Louie his own bad self…the chief mustard cutter of the Louie-Louie generation who likes to say…”You’re never too old to yearn and burn.” And “If you haven’t sprayed some whipped cream directly into your mouth this month…go for it now.”Of course, Big Louie has also been heard saying, ooh ee, oo ah, ting, tang, walla walla bing bang. So be careful about doing what he tells you to do.
Some ruts are really good habits, and are highly recommended. Like, always go home to the same partner. If you’re flying your little airplane, remember to land before you get out. And if you want to get the last word in an argument with your lady, the last word should be yes dear. I know that’s two words, but this is not the time to quibble.
Then, there are some things you shouldn’t do. For example, you should never have an empty refrigerator. That’s just not friendly. And a six pack doesn’t count. Your furniture should never include a futon. Never in history has a woman ever said…take me to your futon. Secret handshakes are a little over the top too. So is dressing like Ronald McDonald, Mick Jagger, the Joint Chiefs of Staff, or any of your more prominent religious leaders.
You start taking too many things for granted when you get into ruts. When you let that happen, you can very easily become a complete waste of skin. Be careful of that if you find yourself thinking you’ve really broken loose at a party because you took off your necktie. My Buddy Geoff is a good example of a Louie Louie generation guy who has let himself get into such ruts, that his wife Joanne says, the only thing that really interests him about the good old birds and bees is the price of chicken soup and honey. If that’s happening to you… comon guy…stir up that soup. Remember what Big Louie always says…”Won ton spelled backwards is not now. But if you stir it up and squirt it out a little maybe you can get it to spell Whoopie.”
Dick’s Details Quiz. All the answers are in the current podcast at www.DickSummer.comÂ
1- What kind of nuts are most annoying ?
2- What’s the hidden meaning of the song What Are You Doing New Year’s Eve ?
3- What is the most suspect ingredient in holiday pies ?
We were talking about how ruts can wreck romances. There’s a story about a couple who are a good example of that in the new Night Connections 2 Personal Audio CD. It’s called The Joy Of Giving Thanks. It’s in the current podcast and it’s kind of a wake up call. If you like it, you can just keep the podcast. Or if you want a fresh copy you can go back to the front page of this web page, and download it by just clicking on the Night Connections 2 icon on the opening page. Whatever works for you.
You sent lots of very special Emails, and a few amazing comments about last week’s blog and podcast. It was about the generosity of being a step parent. Most of you said it was very tough, but it was worth it. Some of you said it was very tough, and it wasn’t worth it. I want to thank all of you for taking the time to comment about it. If you missed it, scroll down and take a look at the last blog. and click on the comments section. There are some thoughts there that you’ll remember.
I think being a step mother is especially tough. Society looks at it like you’re the wicked old witch of the west…or the nasty lady in Cinderella. I think being a good stepmother is just as generous and hard and loving, as being a good birth mother.
The lady sleeping over there in my big black comfortable pappa chair is a good example of that kind of love and generosity. And besides…let me tell you…she sure shook the ruts out of my life. My Lady Wonder Wench.
OK Dick — I LIKE my futon!! Both of them! Good exercise re-placing the mattress/seat every time someone sits on it because it slips and slumps down. It’s made of wood and comes apart for easy transport. It’s not that comfortable to sleep or sit on so people don’t hang around or stay overnight very often. On top of that, if it breaks, the slats and other parts are completely replaceable. And if you get tired of it, it becomes firewood really easily — Besides — I’d rather be on the floor than a couch, bed, or anything else. 😉
-A-