Dick,

More or less, one fool asks a question that seven wise men can't answer.



Malcolm

This question was answered at least as far back as the Middle Ages. One version of the story was called "Sir Gawain and the Loathly Lady," which explains that Gawain was sent on a quest to find the answer. He encountered an incredibly ugly hag of a woman who promised to give him the answer if he would marry her. Gawain knew he was honor-bound to take the answer back to Camelot and the Round Table, so he reluctantly agreed. That night, in the wedding chamber, as he was working up his courage to fulfill his husbandly duties, he turned and saw that the loathly lady had changed into an incredibly beautiful young woman. Seeing her thus, he eagerly took her to bed. The next morning, she told him the answer to his question: The thing a woman most wants is to have her own way. Then his bride offered him a choice. He could have a beautiful young wife either in the privacy of their chamber, or in view of the court at Camelot. But he could not have both. So, she asked him, which did he choose? Gawain responded that since, as a woman, she would prefer to have things her way, the choice was hers to make. He would accept whatever she decided. So, she told him, he had chosen wisely, and since that was his answer, she would be his beautiful wife all of the time.

See how easy it could be, guys?

Ann

Alj,
Why must we always insist on doing it the hard way?

Abe,

Because you are men!

Ann,

You are very wise--thanks for the great story.

I know women want their own way, but once in a while men should get to sing "I did it my way" instead of "Yes, dear."

I'd rather shave a leg than a face any day. Less angles, needs a mirror...and if you mess up, it's pretty hard to hide.

So far as pleasing a woman, my own efforts have met with mixed results. Try repeating, "Please, please, please".

Marie,
The right way?

The hard way is "doing it my (our) way."
The easy way is "doing it her way."

The right way would be to compromise, but sometimes that can be a never-ending loop. I'm reminded of a newly wedded couple I met, trying to get an agreement about signing a contract. I asked for a decision.
He said, turning to his wife:
"Is that OK with you?"
"It's OK with me if it's OK with you."
"But is it OK with you?"
"It's OK with me if it's OK with you."
"Yes, but is it OK with you?"
And so it continued until I finally stopped them. I handed them the pen to sign saying, "I think you're both in agreement. Sign here!"

With men, it doesn't make any difference. If I make a suggestion, I still get asked if I want to do whatever I suggested in the first place.

Shelagh said: "The discussion is all about responsibility and
blame. If anything goes wrong after such a big purchase, the husband
wants to be able to say he was unsure and only agreed because his wife
said it was okay."

That sums it up. Agreement to share blame.

Lin wrote: "My legs are smooth as ivory, however. Long and well turned, lissome and toothsome."

I'm still waiting for someone other than myself to comment on his lissome, toothsome legs. Toothsome?