When a couple has been together for many years, the number of arguments seem to decrease. If you are upset that your partner squeezes the toothpaste from the middle, you have either parted ways long ago, have given up on the issue and just let it go, or you now purchase two tubes of toothpaste so that each can squeeze in their own unique way.
In fact, Merle and I have never really had very many arguments considering that we’ve been together for about 36 years-33 of them married. Most arguments were when I was cranky and felt overwhelmed by kids and housework. In the last few years, Merle has been doing almost all of the cooking and grocery shopping. For the most part, this means that he picks up something for dinner at the grocery store where he gets gas.
We’re not quite even yet after all of the years that I did it when the kids were young. The current system might continue for a while.
Yesterday, we decided to go shopping together, a big grocery run. I started to write a list of the things that we’ve run out of that aren’t on the catch-as-catch-can list. Toilet paper was one of those items. As I added it to the list, Merle asked me “How do you like the brand of toilet paper I’ve been buying?”
I don’t.
I told him that.
He was surprised. He started to get upset. He could not believe that I didn’t like this brand. He had been specifically looking for the brand.
I couldn’t believe that he was getting upset. He asked. I answered. I mean, why would he ask about it if he didn’t want to know the answer?
Suddenly, we were having a rather heated discussion……….about toilet paper.
In between our laughing over the absurdity of it, we figured out how we had found ourselves in this awkward situation.
Apparently, he thought that I liked that brand, and only bought it because of that.
And I thought he liked it, and have been buying it for him.
When we got to the grocery store, we found a compromise brand to try out.
I guess if you are going to have an argument about something, it might as well be about something important-and what could be more important than t.p.?
Almost anything!
Just My Life 
Oh, you make me laugh.
By: mageb on December 10, 2012
at 2:20 pm
When I got married, whichever of us got up last made the bed. The vast majority of the time, it was me. I never bothered when I was single, but I didn’t mind. Cut to twenty years later and a divorce. When I’d stop by to get the kids, I noticed that he never made the bed anymore. All those years, I’d been making it because I thought it was important to him. So much of life is an idiot plot – things that could be easily resolved d if anyone bothered to just ask.
By: Secret Agent Woman on December 10, 2012
at 8:53 pm
This is too funny! We buy Kirkland TP from Costco. We both like it…no complaints! I’m glad you found a compromise brand to try.
We use separate tubes of toothpaste, I don’t use his shower because I don’t like how he (doesn’t) clean it. I’d agree that most of our arguments are out of crankiness…normally on my part. Good to know it might get better with time.
By: jannatwrites on December 11, 2012
at 12:15 am
T.P. is quite an important thing, so it’s great that you argued about it, and got to the bottom of the tissue issue. 🙂
By: John on December 12, 2012
at 12:53 am
Do you both agree on the proper way (over) to put the toilet paper on the roller. That is worthy of an argument! 🙂
By: yearstricken on December 12, 2012
at 8:13 am
This so sounds like my hubby and me. You hit right note with this one.
Of course OVER is the correct way for tp to hang.
By: RustedGranny on December 12, 2012
at 10:28 am
I like the specificity of this argument, especially as the basis for a post. It’s honest, and it’s silly, and it’s very, very real.
By: Jocelyn on December 16, 2012
at 12:37 am