Between a husband and a wife, translated…
On the day of our thirtieth anniversary, the three kids treated us to a meal. As we sat, the three of them asked together, “Dad, mom, this question had been on our minds for a very long time, and, we’re all wondering, that mom’s a beauty, even now; and you, dad, well, the truth is, you’re not easy on the eyes, how did you get mom to marry you?”
My wife started laughing, said, “Good question! Back then, before I married your dad, I did, hesitate, for a very long while, but your grandmother said an idiom in Taiwanese ‘a not-at-all-handsome husband is someone you can count on for life’, after I’d thought about it for a bit, I’d, decided, that he was, the one for me”. After this was stated, our kids started applauding.
Actually, some three decades ago, I’d know that my wife, who was, very beautiful, was way OUT of my league, and didn’t dare pursue her at all. But, after I’d realized, that she’s not only beautiful on the outside, and on the inside as well, that she was, the ideal type of my mate for life, I’d worked up the courage, and started, pursuing her like crazy, and, I’d beaten out, all of her suitors at the very end.
“After I’d married your dad, I’d found that I was right, in choosing to marry him”. My wife started, counting out my good qualities, “He’s hardworking, with compassion, although, as an elementary school instructor, the pay isn’t that much, but, as he’d taught at a special eds school, he’d often treated the children to drinks, and treats; and on the weekends, he’d given the kids free haircuts, or take his students out to see the movies, he’d received the Teacher of the Year award and excellent school instructor award too!”
“If the pay wasn’t high, and he’d needed to take money out of his own pocket, to treat his students to foods and drink, then, how the HECK did dad manage to keep the household?”, my wife replied, “that, is the million dollar question, you know how your dad is an avid writer, he’d sent his essays in, entered into endless number of essay competitions, won endless number of awards, received a ton of cash for his essays, and, the award moneys came, endlessly too, he’d all, paid ‘into the treasure department’, and I’d saved it all, and, you kids, being able to go abroad for your graduate studies, is all due, in part by this compilation of money received from his writings, and his winnings of award money for his writings!”
As the kids heard, they’d all, became quiet, especially when they’d learned, that I’d handed my huge year-end bonuses to their grandparents as allowances, my wife commended me, “like him, hardworking, and treating his parents well, that make him a———”, before she could finish, the kids stated, “A REALLY handsome L-A-D!”
And, the kids took turns, kissing my cheeks, and, joked, “It looks like, when you marry a not-so-hot-looking husband, you are going to be, very well taken care of!”
I’m blushing, all of a sudden.
And so, the woman had, made the right choices, in mate selection, she’d gone beyond the looks, and saw the man for how amazing he really is, how hard working he was, and how well he’d treated his parents, and that, is how, when you’re selecting your partners, it’s best, to IGNORE the external appearances, and look, deeper!
Life, the Obstacle Course 