Domestic Territory-ism

Blogspot 6-19-13, 

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An efficiency expert for a large manufacturer retired. During the following six months he did everything he wanted to do after he retired and was casting about for new projects. One morning as he sat at the kitchen table watching his wife prepare his breakfast, he had an idea. After his beloved left the house for a morning of shopping, he rearranged her kitchen. Pots and pans found themselves in different cupboards, as did other cooking vessels. Dishware was lovingly relocated, as were tableware, dishtowels and wash clothes. When his wife returned, she found her husband drinking a cup of coffee and admiring his handiwork.

Broadly smiling he pointed out each and every one of the changes, stating that overall these changes would save her more than one hundred steps and actions as she went about preparing a meal. He wondered at her reception of his thoughtful work; frowning she nodded apathetically and spoke no words of appreciation. Disappointed with her reception, he left her alone and went elsewhere to pout. As soon as he was gone, his wife returned all of the items in her kitchen to their previous locations.

For several more weeks, her husband carefully studied her food preparations and put together another grand design, one he was certain she would appreciate. As soon as he had the opportunity he labored, and upon her return, eagerly conducted her on another tour of her now much more efficiently arranged kitchen. He assured her that the new set-up would save her almost ten minutes prep time for each meal, a half hour a day she could have to herself.

The tour and explanations completed he returned to his cup of coffee. After several moments of silence his wife sat down across from him and said in an ominous tone of voice, "I know you meant well, BUT IF YOU EVER REARRANGE MY KITCHEN AGAIN, MY LAWYER WILL BE TALKING TO YOU ABOUT FINDING SOMEWHERE ELSE TO LIVE! I knew her well enough to know this was no idyll threat and so did he. (This is a true story; I was their pastor. You figure out the moral.)