Good Night - Be Quiet

I am sure that I’m the only newlywed who after working all day, coming home to mow the grass, then doing another hour of work that I brought home from the office and finally getting in bed exhausted at 11:00 p.m. knowing the alarm would go off in seven hours, my wife wants to talk.

I would do my best to keep my eyes open while Aloma talked while hoping she wouldn’t expect me to respond.  “Did you understand what I just said?” she would ask.  I would say ‘yes’ before falling asleep.

One night Aloma was especially interested in talking about her day and asking how my day went.  I was too tired to respond so I said, “Good night.  Be quiet.”  She was so shocked I didn’t hear another word from her that night.

But I did the next day.  “Do you realize what you told me last night?”

I said I couldn’t remember.

“You told me, ‘Good Night - Be Quiet.’”

I thought I was in big trouble, but she laughed.  “I was so shocked I had to think about it, then it hit me as funny.  I laughed but you were already asleep.”

‘Good Night - Be Quiet’ became one of our code  words.  It could be said anytime, in public or in private and the other person knew what it meant - shut up.

Two hours after my pacemaker was installed, Aloma sat in the comfortable recliner in my hospital room.  I was still loopy and talking nonsense.  She closed her eyes and said,  “Good Night - Be Quiet.”

I knew everything was going to be okay.

Seasoned Man

stevelem117@gmail.com