Sam, Don & I are a lot like you & Jim seem to be. When Don was at work I did all of the lawn care except for the terrace & I wouldn't get near it. That & taking care of the cactus was all of the outside work he had to do. Now it is reversed, it all falls on him. We have had a good marriage but not all a bed of roses. We will be married 49 yrs. come Nov., 18, 2009. Marilyn ----- Original Message ----- From: "Sam Loudermilk" <[email protected]> To: <[email protected]> Sent: Wednesday, June 17, 2009 12:02 PM Subject: Re: [DOWN-HOME-CHATTER] Sam > > Shirley H. I think I am very lucky. Jim and I were both very busy in the > early part of our marriage. Still in school, we were trying to build > careers, raise a family, work, and whoever got home first just pitched in > and did what had to be done. I planned the menu for the week. Everything > for dinner was ready to heat when one of us got home................made > things much easier. We helped each other with everything. EXCEPT YARD > WORK. Jim would do the laundry, clean house on saturdays if we were lucky > enough to both be off. I then, did the yards. I didn't care because I > loved it outside..........Jim got really good about the house > cleaning.................Now, both retired, we still switch > off..........or we help each other..................We never agree on the > yards, so he lets me be, and only lends help when I need him with > something heavy...He keeps lawn equipment in good running order > also.......................it > seems to work pretty well. Jim is the calming side for me, and I guess I > am his strength when he needs it..............we are very blessed to still > be as close as we are. Ups and downs are in all of our journeys through > life, but for us, we have usually gotten along pretty > well....................after saying this, hope we don't have a battle > tonight . lol.................................sam