Some guy’s on the couch in the sunroom, watching TV. A dark-haired, flannelshirted, fella.
As I pass through the room – several (hundred) times – with the laundry, the dog, the vacuum, Jimmy Hoffa, I glance at this vaguely familiar man. Whoever he is, I’m not too worried, because he’s transfixed by the television. Also, he’s been there, immobile, for while, just sitting. I am somewhat in awe of this.
I haven’t sat down during the day in my house since the Bush administration. The first one.
After a week or two, I begin to wonder if this individual is breathing. So I head over to inspect…and see that it is, indeed, my spouse, still alive. Only then, with the blaring ESPN, I realize:
It’s football season.
No wonder I haven’t seen him much lately. I should maybe watch some games with him.
Yes, from time to time, while the husband watches sports on a nice fall afternoon, I like to bug the heck out of, er, spend some time with him while he watches his favorite sport. It’s no problem – I’m a giver.
And he LOVES this.
Me: “So. What quarter is it?”
Hub: *sigh* “This is Sportscenter. Not a game.”
Me: “Oh. O.K…Hey, look! It’s that guy!”
Hub: *Sigh* “What guy?”
Me: “You know…c’mon. That guy!”
Hub: *grits teeth* “WHAT guy?”
Me: “That kicker from Ohio State a few years ago. You know who I mean… Ted Nugent.”
Hub: *rubs temples*: “MIKE Nugent. Don’t you have some Facebooking to do?”
Isn’t that nice? How thoughtful of him to think of my hobbies in this manner. I can tell he really wants to spend MORE time with me and share his affection for the cow-skin.
It’s just too bad I don’t know more about football.
So, later in the day, when I pass him with the hamper, I decide to plop down for a minute.
Me: “Who’s playing?”
Hub: *rubs temples* “Dawn. Look at the TV. It’s Ohio State.”
Me: “Huh. But their uniforms are white. They were red last week.”
Hub *closes eyes* *rubs temples harder*: “They played at home last week. They wear red at home. They’re playing away this week, so they’re wearing white. That’s what they do.”
Me: “Huh. Well, how do people keep up with all these outfit changes?”
Hub: * Slumps* * Rubs temples* “Don’t you have some blogging to do?”
Again, so considerate! Can you feel the love tonight? I take this as my sign to stick around, keep him company…because clearly, he LOVES this. It’s just too bad I don’t know more about football.
Me: “Who’s winning right now?”
Hub: *Closes eyes*: “Toledo.”
Me: “Toledo?! That’s a lot smaller than OSU. I thought Ohio State was supposed to be good?”
Hub: *Crickets*
Me: “You know, I was supposed to go to T.J. Maxx with Marjie, but I don’t have any money. That’s O.K., though, I’d rather stay here with you and talk the football…”
Hub: *Head snaps up* “Here!” he says, slouching down to pull out a handful of cash. “Go ahead! Have fun! You never get to go shopping!”
Yes. It’s really too bad I don’t know more about football.
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