So, here’s the deal. When my husband Donald retired, everyone asked him, “What are you going to do after you retire?” He replied, “Carry my wife’s bags when she travels to teach quilting.”
And he has, over and over and over again. Not only does Donald shuffle my bags from here to there, he also packs my bags. As a former senior chief in the Navy, the man knows how to pack.
In addition to traveling with me on quilting jaunts, Donald also is the president of my fan club. Actually, he is the only member of my fan club, but he does his job with gusto. While motoring to a quilting symposium in New Zealand, we pulled into a mini-mart for gas. While I sashayed off to the “loo,” Donald chatted with the attendant and pumped the gas. Returning to the car, I spied Donald spreading my quilts on the trunk of the car, showing them off to the attendant and his wife. Beet red, I dragged Donald aside and whispered, “What in the holy heck are you doing?” He smugly replied, “The attendant’s wife is signed up for your class at the symposium and she really wanted to see your quilts.”
Melting with embarrassment, I thought to myself, “What will the man do next?”
Even complete strangers coming to our home to perform services such as cleaning out the vents or shampooing the carpets get the royal tour from Donald. He marches them from room to room, showing off my quilts displayed on the walls. I, meanwhile, am curled up in a fetal position in the closet.
Donald also performs “other jobs as assigned.” I often provide kits for quilters at conferences and Donald is my designated chief kit assembler. He also packs the kits and gets them shipped to the appropriate destination. What a guy!
When I am crazy busy, Donald takes on the role of “personal assistant.” He proof reads copy, runs countless errands, shops for groceries, and even cleans toilets. Don’t feel too sorry for him, though. The man has gone on two quilting cruises with me; one through the Panama Canal and the next, up the New England coast. If he agrees to schlep my bags again, he may get to go on a quilting cruise to Alaska, this summer, and another to the Mexican Riviera next year…
I thank the Lord every day that this amazing man is my husband. Some of my quilting friends have asked me if Donald “hires out.” My answer is, “Sorry Charlie, I don’t share.”
Happy Quilting,
Joyce
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