There Oughta Be a Manual

I have detailed elsewhere some of my husband’s winning qualities.  In addition to cooking ham during Passover, he is aware of other people’s needs, including mine.  He is also a guy who gets things done, usually well ahead of the last minute.  He is truly goal-oriented. 

There is one thing that perplexes him, as per this phone conversation, which we had a few days after dropping off Oldest Daughter at college. 

Common Household Husband:  I called about that incorrect bill and got it straightened out.  I just wanted you to know.

Me:  Okay.

Husband: And then I was dealing with this other issue and I think after several e-mails I got everybody back on track so that we can reach our goal and set the policy for this issue.

Me: Good.

Husband:  How is Youngest Daughter?

Me:  She went back to bed...(pause)...  I’m very emotional today.

Husband, perplexed:  Why?!

Me: It’s the end of an era.

Husband:  What do you want to happen next?

Me:  It’s not that I want something to happen next, it’s just that it’s truly the end of the Oldest-Daughter-as-a-Child era, and I’m mourning it.

Husband:  You know, there should be a manual about women. 

Me:  Your job is to say, “Tell me how you feel.”

Husband:  There should be a guidebook that tells you that the women don’t want a plan, or goals, they just want to bask in the emotions.

Me:  That’s right!

Husband:  Okay, tell me how you feel. Only not right now.

Me:  Okay.  Thank you for your time. I’ll call you later.  Is that what the men want to hear?

Husband: Yes!  Bye!

It’s okay.  I told him later how I felt.  And he listened.