Yes, I know he did not. However,
he should have. I simply say that to underscore the importance of the
cell phone in a relationship during the holiday season.
Now
what this observation is not about. It is not about tracking or texting
photos or sending love notes. It is not about annoying rings. It is not
about people talking too loudly. It is a simple observation about the
value of a cell phone in a relationship during a stressful time of the
year.
First,
you must accept that the holiday season can be stressful in numerous ways. If
not, go back to the rerun of Law and Order you are watching. If you agree,
please continue.
Over
the Christmas holidays, I noticed a unique phenomenon at grocery stores. This
is the peak season for this phenomenon. So many men have faced this
dilemma and it always starts with a simple request:
"Honey
can you run to the store and pick up ... ?"
Second,
some history. Those of us that lived the pre-cell days know that this is
problematic. Pre-cell days I would go the grocery store. If I got the
wrong item (which was often), I would get irritated and have to go back. I
suspect some variance of this is repeated in every city of every state in the
US. No man wants to make repeated trips to the store, we have sports to
watch.
A
couple of examples are in order for those who doubt me.
"Honey,
can you run to the store and pick up whipping cream?"
So I head
out the door. Does she mean pre-whipped? Or a liquid form? If a liquid
from, pasteurized or ultra-pasteurized (whatever the difference is)? Yes,
I would buy one and proudly take it home. It was wrong. Now I had
to go back and get the right one. I stopped trying to get my money back
or exchange it. I take it you recall the long, long, long line of men (never
women) trying to exchange a product or get a refund.
Another
example and my favorite. "Honey can you run to the store and pick up
some chocolate for the pie I am making?"
Have
you ever really looked at the chocolate aisle in a grocery store? And what are
our options? We have several types of powder. We have several types chips
(including white chocolate). We have several sizes of chips. We have several
brands of chips and cooking chocolate, (Nestle, Ghirardelli, Hershey, Baker's, Guittard, Callebaut, and
Valrhona, etc.). We
have several varieties of chocolate, Dark
Chocolate, Semisweet and Bittersweet Chocolate, Dutch-Process Cocoa, Milk
Chocolate, and White Chocolate. See, it is confusing.
So what do I see today when we are shopping for holiday
food. Every man is on his cell. More than likely calling his wife with a
question like "I see so many types of chocolate, which one did you
need?" Some men have learned (I am one) to take a pic and text it to my
wife.
The
result? Far less holiday stress. Far less miles traveled. Far less items
returned. More enjoyment during the holiday season. More time with the family (hmmm, need to mull that one).
Third,
a kudo to my wife. If it is store she frequents, she can tell me the
aisle, location, and shelf for many products. Confession, I still have to
call her. And I still take photos and text it to her. Ever looked at the spice aisle?
