My Wife Told Me To Write This

I spent two wonderful days with my wife this past week. We drove to Winterset, Iowa to see John Wayne's birthplace and tour the bridges of Madison County. We laughed together, we did what we wanted when we wanted, we talked about our plans for the future, dreams, wishes, desires. We drove in the sunshine, we drove in the rain. It was a wonderful two days.

The trip also provided Dorrie with another opportunity to revel in the humility of her husband.

In Winterset, there is a stone tower built to commemorate a pioneer couple from that area. It is located at the end of a long, winding, unpaved road in a local park. The terrain is very hilly with sheer drop-offs on either side of the road as you drove. It had rained in the days before our visit and there was water along the side of the dirt road, running in some places, stagnant pools in others. You could see where some who hadn't paid attention had driven into the water leaving deep ruts alongside the road.

At one point there was quite a bit of water on Dorrie's side of her SUV. I was driving, so she said, "Watch out for the water over here." I thought to myself, "Does she think I'm blind or just a little stupid." But I said nothing.

A little further down the road, there was another small river with ruts in it and she said again,"Watch out for the water over here." I said to her, (in my gentle way), "Honey, I'm not blind. I see that water. That's why I'm driving on this side of the road."

I then proceeded to inform her of my well trained ability of perception. I told her that I am always paying attention to what is going on around me. I constantly check my mirrors and know where traffic is around me at all times. I notice pedestrians and other cars to watch for things that might get in my way. I am like a wild animal, always in touch with my surroundings as if my very life depended on it. There is nothing that goes on around my vehicle that I am not aware of. I continued this discourse for several minutes, not only esteeming my own skills of observation and attention, but also in hopes of instructing my poor wife who sometimes doesn't pay enough attention while she is driving, (unlike her husband who is a perfect driver!)

Of course, she was left speechless in the wake of my self declaration. Probably so awestruck she was at a loss for words. So we drove in silence for a while, heading to the next covered bridge.

We came to a small town, just a 'wide spot in the road' as they say. As we entered the town I slowed to the posted 40 mph and kept my keen eye open for the sign that would direct us to the next covered bridge. (Another of my impressive qualities is my uncanny ability to find things based upon following road signs!)

I spotted a small brown sign, like the ones that had guided us to the previous three bridges, and so I focused my eagle-like eyes on it to see which direction to turn. The sign turned out not to be for a bridge, but for a 'swamp area.' As I drove past the road to the 'swamp area' I turned my head to look down the road and I heard Dorrie say something. It sounded like, "Stop sign."

I turned my head back and looked at her and asked, "What?" She said again, "Stop sign." I said again, "What?"

A sly grin began to cross her face as she said again, "Stop sign. You just ran right through that stop sign Mr. 'I see everything!' Mr. 'I know what's going on around my vehicle at all times!' Mr. 'I pay close attention to everything that goes on around me at all times and never miss a thing.'

Boy is she annoying! One little mistake and she went on for minutes!

The longer I live, the more I prove the book of Proverbs. Proverbs 18:12 says, "Before his downfall a man's heart is proud, but humility comes before honor."

In all honesty we both laughed about this for a long part of the weekend. I told Dorrie this would make a great blog, and she agreed. And so I write this in an attempt at humility. Keep me in your prayers and praise God no one was heading through that intersection toward that swamp area.