Beware the Look
June 17th, 2009 by Grandpa OddballCopyright © GetOddNews and Grandpa Oddball June 17, 2009. All rights reserved.
Concentrating furiously on my therapy trying to recover after better than four years in hospitals and nursing homes I had no idea what was coming. The therapy was hard (for me) and I wasn’t paying as much attention to my surroundings as I should have or I would have noticed the conversation ensuing between my wife and one of the therapists nearby. My first inkling to the unfolding drama was when I heard the words South Dakota and puddle drift my way. Glancing over I encountered THE LOOK (you happily married husbands know what that means) and it was then I knew what was coming.
Thirty five years had passed and still she hadn’t forgot. I guess wives are like that sometimes. Besides I was innocent. Oh well, I might as well tell you what happened before grandma Oddball does. Besides her account of these events are somewhat different than my recollections and it’s time to set the record straight.
It all started when we decided to visited my wife’s grandmother in Minnesota. Since we were going to Minnesota we decided to make it an epic trip and visit my wife’s uncles who still lived in the old farmhouse in South Dakota on our way home. Packing up the kids we had a nice visit with her grandmother where among other things I learned that Finnish isn’t a very efficient language. This was obvious from the fact that my wife translated for me extremely long Finnish phrases into very compact English. Coincidently I usually had to also contend with the look on these occasions so I wasn’t able to systemically investigate this phenomenon.
Heading home we stopped off to visit her uncles where her uncles and I got along splendidly. While visiting we lost all track of time and hardly noticed the squall outside that passed over us unlike the approaching squall that would shortly wash over me. It was getting late so they invited us out to dinner. The passing squall dropped some rain which had coalesced into numerous puddles in the farmyard. Fortunately we’d brought boots along for the kids so it was fairly easy to get them ready.
My wife put on the children’s boots then I took the them outside while waiting for her to get ready. Outside the air was clear and fresh smelling. Actually a very nice day and just perfect for children to run and play. Especially inviting were the puddles scattered around the farmyard.
Pages:
1 2 next page »»
this article with others.
Well, I just have a couple of comments. One, we were on our way to Minnesota when this incident happened. And two, I think any mother out there would agree with me that “the look” was well deserved! ‘Innocent’, my eye. We were getting ready to go to a restaurant for dinner and all I could do was shove both kids into the shower, clothes and all! Luckily we had changes of clothes for both of them in the car; otherwise I would have had to do a quick load of laundry. The kids were 6 and 2 so of course they relished jumping in the puddles! Even 30 years later my uncle laughed about the ‘mud puppies’. MEN!!!!!
I love this story. I don’t know why “the look” gets such a bad rap. Seems to me it is part of good mothering. It reminds me of the time I came home from work and Chuck had all four kids in the back yard painting the yard furniture. White paint everywhere (even on the grass) alog with four kids wielding brushes somehow didn’t quite mix. They all remember fondly that time and with much laughter too. I am pretty sure “the look” was evident on that long ago day.
Love, Selma
[...] didn’t help. The ensuing silence was only broken by that special stare only available to a wife. Discretion dictated [...]
[...] Oddball presents Beware the Look posted at [...]
[...] cast their lines from small motorboats and seagulls plucked mud puppies from the water. …Beware the Look GetOddNewsYou think this deserves the look? How I'm misunderstood! Well, if you're married you will understand [...]
[...] I replied, “You’re half right,” I received a stare that almost rivaled The Look. Not even grandma’s laugh could mollify her. I was clearly on her undesirable list. I bet she [...]
[...] allowed much salt) it sounded great but when I blurted it out to Grandma I received the now famous LOOK. She wasn’t [...]