One Little Word

I have always had an interest in the design of newer houses. I surely do not have an ounce of my father's building ability and I seriously doubt I will have the monetary necessities to actually have someone build one for me, but still I dream. I used to traverse modular home and double-wide trailer showrooms from as far back as 1994 without any intention of buying, but I was taking mental notes because someday when I am old and gray - I will finally have my game room/den.

Of course this is merely background information for the REAL reason for this post.

There is this place that we often pass along the highway that has cabins and smaller open spaces houses on display. I have mentioned on many an occasion on how I would like to someday take a visit there - if nothing more that to look in the windows. It's not too far, maybe a 15-20 minute drive and it is on a road that I haven't been on before - making me doubly curious to make the venture.

Unfortunately, I have gotten the sense that the wife is not as enthused.

So a few weeks ago, I declared on my way home from work that I would like to take her and the kids on a little drive to enjoy the warm weather that we had been having. Neither of the girls had any appointments for the day (a rarity), and I thought it would do us all a little good to get out of the house for a bit.

When the wife asked where we would be going, I was honest and upfront, telling her that we would be checking out the cabins along the freeway. She quickly diverted my attention to food by suggesting we have lunch first, then catch up a little on some TV shows that we had on the DVR.

The diversion worked - for a time. Besides there were only so many TV shows that we both like to watch and I sure wasn't going to get sucked into another America's Next Top Model marathon.

Again I asked if they wanted to go because if that didn't, I had grass to mow and I would just work on it instead. There was something about taking a family drive without the family that left me feeling a little empty to the point I found it silly wanting to go in the first place. Women have that power.

Grimm: So would you like to go or not?

Wife (after much hesitating) : Ummm, yeah I will go with you.

Now on the surface you might thing that this was an innocent response and there was nothing wrong with it. But if you look closer, you will notice that there are a few key words missing - mainly like or want.

See the difference? While her initial reply states that she will go, it does not infer that she wants to go with you and merely means that she will accompany you on your little trip to satisfy her good deed quota for the day. However, if you insert like, want or better yet, love into this statement, and you change the meaning entirely.

"I would like to go with you."
"I want to go with you."
"I would love to go with you."

Using these statements makes us men think that you would go anywhere - even Uncle Bob's Manure Pottery Palace - as long as you were with us. You have no idea how empowering it makes us feel...

...or maybe you do and that's the reason you don't say it in the first place.

Somewhere down the line there will be a time of repayment, when my attendance may be requested for a grocery store trip or an hour long venture to find a new outfit and I will remember these little moments when one additional word may have been the deal maker or the deal breaker.

Or she will just threaten me with no sex for a week and I will cave in to her every want and need. She has that ability.

I got the yard mowed that day and the cabins have remained unvisited - exactly what I think my wife wanted. Sometimes I feel as though her little finger has lost all blood flow from how tightly she has me wrapped around it.