Dale and I both like pretzels, although he gets extra salty, and I like extra dark. My all-time favorites were little multigrain nuggets with sesame seeds from Trader Joe’s, but they discontinued them, and nothing has been the same since. I’ll take my almost-burnt pretzels as a runner-up.
We usually keep them in stock, but somehow both kinds mysteriously disappeared from the drawer where we keep them. I was away Monday night for a golf outing, and when I returned Tuesday, I noticed a bright new bag of extra salty pretzels but none of the extra dark.
Here we go again.
I said, “I noticed you replenished your pretzel supply. Why didn’t you get me any? You know I like the extra dark.”
He went into this harangue about how he doesn’t pretend to keep track of what I eat from day to day, and I’m always changing, and how can he be expected to know whether I want them or not? I said I’ve been eating them for six months and have never complained, so one would assume I still enjoy them and might appreciate a bag if you are already at the store anyway … buying some for yourself.
In the end, I caved. I agreed he can’t be responsible for knowing what I want. He is not to buy pretzels for me unless I specifically request them. He said perfect, that’s the way we will proceed. For the record, it was not a nasty conversation. We’re both a wee bit argumentative, but we come by it naturally.
Part of the problem is Dale was an award-winning debater in high school, and I was quite successful as a persuasive speaker in both high school and college. We met in the military, we were both leaders in our careers and we both like being in charge. However, our energy for the duel has waned with age and retirement, and we have gotten better about quitting before one of us gets a sword through the chest.
The next day, that would be today, he says he’s going to the store for pickles and will buy me pretzels while he’s there. I said, did I ask for them? I thought we had an agreement, or was it a dream? I mean, we went through all that only so you can ignore the new policy? He said no, you didn’t ask for them, but I’ll get you pretzels anyway. I said, no, that’s not what we agreed to. He said OK, no pretzels.
A few minutes later I heard his keys jingle and asked, “Are you going to the store now?” He said yes.
“Will you please get me some of the extra dark pretzels?”
I could hear him laughing all the way down the stairs, and it didn’t stop until the front door closed behind him.
Traders always stops selling things I love also!!! Why is that???
I don’t know, but it is super annoying, isn’t it?
I love how you use humor to lighten. My DH and I do that too. He is retired investigator and I am retired professional arguer, so we tend to want to be right when we discuss. I would just be thrilled if my husband ever proactively offered to go to the store without me asking.
Investigator plus arguer — yes, I can imagine the debates at your house! Dale loves to go to the store, so in hindsight, when I noticed no pretzels for me I should have said, “Hey, next time you go to the store, will you please buy me some of the extra dark pretzels?” But then I would have nothing to write about!
Good thing you weren’t litigators or it would take forever to get your food
Too true and very funny!
We just went through this but the subject was cheese doodles (as we call them) I was at the market that had multiple baked Cheetos like items and had to bring home the perfect ones she liked last time only she didn’t remember which ones those were. Suffice it to say, we have a pantry full of cheese doodles.
Well, Carole, I don’t think you can go wrong with a pantry full of cheese doodles. I like the crispy kind, and Dale likes the puffy balls (but not not the long puffy ones). Go figure.
So jealous that you can get extra dark pretzles!
Donna, you’re on of the funniest person ever.
Hi Barbara — thank you! You would have loved the ones from Trader Joe’s. Almost like a pretzel version of sonnenblumenbrot.