Dear Larry:

It was the first LSU football game of the season and invited the family—what is left of it—-to gather for the game and dinner.  I prepared a menu and wrote my grocery list.  After work I planned to go to the grocery store so that I could begin to prep some of the dishes in advance.  You know—I always do it this way.  You have seen it dozens of times.

For one of my dishes, I needed cherry tomatoes.  As I passed through the produce department, I picked up the plastic container filled with fat cherry tomatoes.  I finished shopping and headed for the checkout to scout out the shortest line.

When I got to the check out counter, I started loading my groceries on to the belt.  I lady lined up behind me waiting for me to be done.  As I picked up the box of cherry tomatoes, the bottom fell out and tomatoes dropped all over the floor and the basket.  I rolled my eyes and she started to laugh as she bent over and began to help me gather all of these wayward tomatoes. 

I must have had a comment like “It’s always something” and that invited her to begin a very one-sided conversation.  She began to complain about how many groceries she needed to buy and the money that it cost now due to inflation. If he husband, she shared, did not insist that she cook three meals a day, she could both save money and not be a slave to him and the kitchen.    Didn’t I think that asking for three meals a day was unreasonable?  I stopped loading my groceries.  I turned to her and said, “I can give you a very different perspective if you are interested.”  She said, “Okey”.  She may have regretted giving me the go ahead.

I said, “My husband died six years ago.  I would give anything to have the honor to cook three meals a day for him.”  I saw her hand go up to cover her mouth.

I completed my transaction, turned to her, thanked her for helping me retrieve my tomatoes and wished her a good day.  She never spoke a word.

Your wife,

P