I am probably one of the last hold-outs who don't believe there are that many born differences between men and women that people like to make fun about, given we all hail from the same human stock and share the same fundamental working of body and soul, men or women. Now that I am in my early 50's, however, I am admitting that men and women do behave differently in many ways, manifested and perhaps reinforced by the many different roles we play in years. I'll leave it to my dear wife to tell what roles she perceives me playing, but here are those she impresses on me from day to day:
A Rule Setter
There might be plenty of good food in the refrigerator, but if you think they are for pleasurable random consumption, you are wrong. "The bbq meat is for dinner, the cake is for breakfast..." Snatch the wrong thing, and you hear that rule repeated over and over again.
A Mother
Remember President George Bush Sr. once said he never likes broccoli and would not have eaten it if his mother did not force him to? One day after I raised my occasional complaint about some vegetables I don't really like to eat and she gave me the usual "eat you should because they are good for you" lecture, I suddenly realized I was in poorer plight than old George, because he finally can eat whatever he likes without his mother's presence, but I still can't.
A Vigilante Environmentalist
"You forget to turn the light switch off again..." even though I only do it once in a hundred times.
A Health Alarmist
One latest piece of health science finding (or hearsay), or a spike in her blood pressure will trigger a new round of health panic and (verbal) commitment to healthful habits again.
An Absolute Conformist
"Nobody has done it this way before," she'll always object whenever I suggest some innovative way of doing things. If we have children, none of them will grow up to be another Thomas Edison, I don't think.
A Good Citizen
"Don't drive too fast," she'll say,
with Pragmatic Reasoning
"lest you get caught by the police (and pay a hefty fine)."
Joking aside (one thing I am not sure of is if she's a humorist or not. I'll be in big trouble if she's not), I personally think the following lyrics from the song "She's Always a Woman to Me" by Billy Joel makes the most apt description of what a woman is: (to hear the song, go to http://www.youtube.com/
She can kill with a smile, she can wound with her eyes.
And she can ruin your faith with her casual lies.
And she only reveals what she wants you to see.
She hides like a child, but she's always a woman to me.
She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you.
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe.
And she'll take what you'll give her as long as it's free.
Yeah, she steals like a thief, but she's always a woman to me.
And she can ruin your faith with her casual lies.
And she only reveals what she wants you to see.
She hides like a child, but she's always a woman to me.
She can lead you to love, she can take you or leave you.
She can ask for the truth but she'll never believe.
And she'll take what you'll give her as long as it's free.
Yeah, she steals like a thief, but she's always a woman to me.
Oooh, she takes care of herself.
She can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time.
Oooooh, and she never gives out, and she never gives in,
She just changes her mind.
And she'll promise you more than the Garden of Eden.
And she'll carelesly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding.
But she'll bring out the best and the worst you can be.
Blame it all on yourself, 'cause she's always a woman to me.
Oooh, she takes care of herself.
She can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time.
Oooooh, and she never gives out, and she never gives in,
She just changes her mind.
She is frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel.
But she can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool.
And she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree.
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you,
But she's always a woman to me.
Yes my wife is always the ultimate woman to me!!
She can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time.
Oooooh, and she never gives out, and she never gives in,
She just changes her mind.
And she'll promise you more than the Garden of Eden.
And she'll carelesly cut you and laugh while you're bleeding.
But she'll bring out the best and the worst you can be.
Blame it all on yourself, 'cause she's always a woman to me.
Oooh, she takes care of herself.
She can wait if she wants, she's ahead of her time.
Oooooh, and she never gives out, and she never gives in,
She just changes her mind.
She is frequently kind and she's suddenly cruel.
But she can do as she pleases, she's nobody's fool.
And she can't be convicted, she's earned her degree.
And the most she will do is throw shadows at you,
But she's always a woman to me.
Yes my wife is always the ultimate woman to me!!
Happy Valentine's!
