We have an on-going controversy in my family.
No, it’s not because I’m a Miami Dolphins fan living with a family of Patriots fans. It’s always been that way. Back when the Patriots were really good, the Dynasty years, the kids were very nice as the mediocre Dolphins ended the season. For many years I heard, “Sorry dad!” And when the Pats started to lose after Brady left I was often asked, “Is this how you felt all those years?” Yeah. You get used to it.
No, the controversy isn’t over politics. We try to stay away from that, especially if we disagree. It’s not worth ruining our family bond.
The controversy is: my wife moved the living room clock!
I know, it might seem trivial to you but that clock has been in the same place for over 40 years! It was always in the same place for every year these children grew up in this house!
Do you know how many times we have all looked up to the old place to check the time? It’s usually followed by a question: “Why did you move the damn clock?!”
My wife wants me to point out that she moved it over TWO YEARS AGO! Yes! This has been going on for over two years!
Two years ago our oldest daughter, Sarah, and our grandson, Liam, stayed with us for six months while her husband, Steven, was deployed. They would be moving to Texas when he returned so instead of them being alone in Virginia while he was away, they sold their house in Virginia Beach and Sarah and Liam moved in with us. It was a great time but eventually it was time for them to leave.
We were sad to see them go so Grammy, my wife, decided to freshen up the whole house. We hired a friend who did some work for us and the downstairs got a whole new look.
And the clock moved.
There was no reason why it had to move, she just decided to move it. “Let’s freshen things up!” And to this day… when I want to know what time it is… I look to an empty wall before I’m reminded, “Oh yeah. She moved it!”
It’s not just me. All four children have since moved out on their own but whenever they visit, when they want to see what time it is…they look at an empty wall! Even my nieces in Vermont have looked to the old location when they have visited.
This week I thought it was going to go back WHERE IT BELONGS but nope! We picked up some new wall hangings recently and my wife actually took the clock down to consider how things looked. I was getting all excited! I was going to send out a group family text to tell everyone when…she put the clock back in it’s “new” place not where we all think it belongs.
Oh well!
If I’ve learned nothing else in our almost 44 years of marriage it’s to be flexible. In the grand scheme of things it really doesn’t matter where the clock is. Most of the time I have my phone or tablet nearby and that has the time on it.
It’s just so funny when the kids are over and I catch them looking at the old location. I swear I’ve even caught my wife looking at the old spot.
“See? Now you know how it feels!”
We are such creatures of habit, aren’t we?
Recently we “cut the cord” and returned our cable box. My wife went out and bought a digital clock for the entertainment center because she didn’t have the clock on the cable box anymore. One of the kids was quick to point out, “If you put the clock back, WHERE IT BELONGS, you could see what time it is!”
I can almost GUARANTEE that when I FINALLY get used to it being in that new spot…it’ll be time to move it AGAIN!
One thing’s for sure in this house: it never gets boring.
Now, what time is it?
(Looks at a blank wall trying to find the clock.)
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