It is important for men to remember, that as women
grow older it  becomes harder for them to maintain the
same quality of housekeeping as when they were
younger. When you notice this, try not to yell at
them. Some are oversensitive and there's nothing worse
than an oversensitive woman.

My name is Clarence. Let me relate how I handled the
situation with my wife, Marie.

When I took "early retirement", it became necessary
for Marie to get a full-time job, both for extra
income and for the health benefits that we needed.
Shortly after she started working I noticed she was
beginning to show her age.

I usually get home from the Golf Course about the same
time she  gets home from work. Although she knows how
hungry I am, she almost always says she has to rest
for half an hour or so before she starts dinner. I
don't yell at her. Instead, I tell her to take her
time and just wake me when she gets dinner on the
table. I generally have lunch in the Grill at the club
so eating out is not reasonable. I'm ready for some
home cooked grub when I hit that door.

She used to do the dishes as soon as we finished
eating. But now, it's not unusual for them to sit on
the table for several hours after dinner. I do what I
can by diplomatically reminding her several times each
evening that they won't clean themselves. I know she
appreciates this, as it does seem to motivate her to
get them done before she goes to bed. I really think
my experience as a manager helps a lot. I consider
telling people what they ought to do one of my strong
points...

Now that she has gotten older, she does seem to get
tired so much more quickly. Our washer and dryer are
in the basement. Sometimes she says she just can't
make another trip down those steps.

I don't make a big issue of this; as long as she
finishes up the laundry the next evening, I'm willing
to overlook it. Not only that, but unless I need
something ironed to wear to the Monday lodge meeting,
or to Wednesday's or Saturday's poker club, or to
Tuesday's or Thursday's bowling, or something like
that, I will tell her to wait until the next evening
to do the ironing.

This gives her a little more time to do some of those
odds and ends like shampooing the dog, vacuuming or
dusting. Also, if I had a really good day on the
course and it was wet and muddy, my clubs are a mess,
so I let her clean them, you know.....get the grit off
the grips and a little light Brillo on the club faces
at a casual pace.

My golf bag is heavy so I lift it out of the trunk for
her. Women are delicate, have weak wrists and can't
lift heavy stuff as good as men. But I did tell her I
don't like to be wakened during my after-golf nap, so
rather than bother me, she can put them back in the
trunk when she's finished.

Another symptom of her aging is complaining, I think.
For example, she will say that it is difficult for her
to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch
hour.   But boys, we take 'em for better or worse, so
I just smile and offer encouragement. I tell her to
stretch it out over two or even three days.  That way
she won't have to rush so much.

I also remind her that missing lunch completely now
and then wouldn't hurt her any (if you know what I
mean). I like to think that  is one of my strong
points.  When doing simple jobs, she seems to think
she needs more rest periods.  She had to take a break
when she was only half finished mowing the yard. I try
not to make a scene.

I'm a fair man. I tell her to fix herself a nice, big,
cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just sit
for a while. And, as long as she is making one for
herself, she may as well make one for me too, and then
take her break by my hammock. That way she can talk
with me until I fall asleep.

I know that I probably look like a saint in the way I
support Marie.  I'm not saying that showing this much
consideration is easy. Many men will find it
difficult. Some will find it impossible! Nobody  knows
better than I do how frustrating women get as they get
older. However, guys, even if you just use a little
more tact and less criticism of your aging wife
because of this article, I will consider that writing
it was well worthwhile. After all, we are put on this
earth to help each other.

Signed, Clarence

[ EDITOR'S NOTE: Clarence passed away suddenly
Thursday May
26th. He was found with a Calloway extra long 50 inch
Big Bertha Driver II rammed up his posterior, with
only 2 inches of grip showing. His wife Marie was
arrested, but the all-woman Grand Jury accepted her
defense that he accidentally sat on it, and died!]