Vive la Difference

A few days ago, I posted a poem called And the Men by Tony Hoagland, which had been featured on The Writer's Almanac.  The poem was about how men are discovering their softer side.  I was going to say it was about the feminization of modern men, but decided that might be a bit over the top.  Well, I just said it anyway, didn't I?

Shirley disagrees and sent us these diary entries to highlight how different the sexes remain (although a man with a diary--the whole concept supports Hoagland's premise):

Her Diary:

Tonight, I thought he was acting weird.  We had made plans to meet at a bar to have a drink.  I was shopping with friends all day long, so I thought he was upset that I was a little late, but he made no comment.

Conversation wasn't flowing, so I suggested that we go somewhere quiet where we could talk.  He agreed, but he remained quiet and absent.  I asked him what was wrong.  He replied "nothing." I asked him if it was my fault that he was upset.  He replied that it had nothing to do with me, and not to worry.

(Note:  There's nothing that makes me worry like being told not to worry.)

On the way home, I told him that I loved him.  He simply smiled and kept driving.  I can't explain his behavior.  I don't know why he didn't say "I love you too."  When we got home, I felt as if I had lost him, as if he wanted nothing to do with me anymore.  He just sat there and watched T.V.  He seemed distant and remote.

Finally, I decided to go to bed.  About ten minutes later he came to bed. To my surprise, he responded to my caress and we made love, but I still felt that he was distracted and his thoughts were somewhere else.  He fell asleep.  I lay there crying.  I don't know what to do. 

I'm almost sure that his thoughts are with someone else.

My life is a disaster.

His Diary:

I shot the worst round of golf in my life today, but at least I got laid.

Comments

[keewee]

Ahha! the mind of a man, well some men. I know some of them are smart enough to speak up, usually they will tell you, they had a lousy day at golf or whatever, and we do not have to take their moods so personally. The same goes for us, why keep things bottled up, thereby perhaps setting the stage for our partners to think the worst.
Speak up, and life will flow a little easier.