Why Single Could Be Good ... Sometimes

When you're single, you might be in a foul mood but it's your foul mood. When you're with someone, their foul mood becomes yours and somehow, it becomes incumbent upon you to find your way out of it. I used to feel responsible. Now, I just want it over.

I admit that I'm not the most linear person you'd ever want to meet when it comes to moods. I cry at the drop of a hat, I'm easily hurt, and I can't stand feeling as if there's something I could be doing when the husband-guy is in a mood. Naturally, I'm not talking about the mood caused by various marital sins like staying an hour later at work after calling to say you're on your way, or apparently missing the long soapy streak across the bathroom mirror after shaving, or remembering that I can decide for myself if I want to work in a hotdog costume for the fast food joint up the street, thank you very much. (I'd never want to do that, ever, but I retain the right to want to, you know?) And as I said, I can get into quite a snit as well.

No, I'm talking about those occasions when someone/something else has caused the foul mood. Work, the rain, transit workers, taxi drivers, work, local government, voice mail retrieval, work ... whatever gets his motor cranking and his voice ranting. This is a lovely, sane man most of the time. He doesn't swear, he doesn't hit, he's respectful to old people and wonderful with children. And then the minor inconveniences rear up like the robot warriors in War of the World and all hell breaks loose. Forget gentle conversation. Forget cuddling on the couch. Forget sex. (Well, duh). For as long as the inconvenience continues to cause ... well, inconvenience, there's a more convenient place for me to be.

I'm glad that minor inconveniences, by their very nature, last about three minutes or less. I'm also glad that both of us have one very important thing in common. We make each other laugh. Especially when we're in a mood. Makes being a couple bearable, I think.