Saturday, March 11, 2017

The Launguage of Marriage.


In 1953, our 3 room school had a male and female out house and a pump just like this one was the only water on the property. I had never seen one. I made a cup out of note book paper and pumped it full of water to drink and you can guess what happened. Everyone else in the school used the communal dipper in the bucket sitting beside it...
Since I have no pics to go with the comments below I am adding them here.

After many years of marriage, we find we have our own language. Lifted eyebrows can mean, can you believe this? or Do you want to?

Hand signals work really well since Bob has hearing problems.  Especially in public or in a store. Talking to his back is a waste of breath.
Hand UP means Stop! Hand cupped bending fingers back towards me rapidly means come here. Finger pointing down aisle means, go that way... when I throw both hands UP at same time it means What the heck are you doing, thinking or going?
I will not say what both hands on hips means.

While shopping for pool supplies at Home Depot, the really heavy kind, I pushed the basket to the cashier and after she scanned with her little scanner, Bob walked towards the exit, I held out the Keys and said Loudly to the oh so deaf man in my life   "Hey! Keys! Go!" and he took them and went to the truck without saying a word. I turned to see the cashier laughing like crazy. I said we have our own shorthand speak...

16 comments:

Ginny Hartzler said...

Funny! Kind of like talking to a parrot or dog! I think all couples who have been married for so long have their own language. Spousespeak. Neither of us can hear when someone talks to our back. Or when the water is running, or the toilet, coffee maker, etc. This makes me glad for clean indoor running water.

DeniseinVA said...

Wonderful! Isn't the truth? The longer you live together, it is like you can read each other's mind :) I like Ginnie's description, Spousespeak :)

DeniseinVA said...

ps the picture of the old pump is great.

Anonymous said...

So funny.....John can't hear either and I shout out one word "orders" for him. It just makes life easier!

eileeninmd said...

Hello, I agree the longer you live with someone you can almost read their mind. I can not talk to my hubby's back either. I am so glad with have indoor plumbing. Enjoy your day and weekend!

Jo said...

Love the old pump, Sandra. And so true: as Ginny says: spousespeak! I cannot talk to Grant's back either. Here in the big house where we spend all day, there's a huge fridge (like you get in cafe's - will send you a photo!)If I have my head in there and sir poses a question, we normally end up with a fight as I don't answer. I can't hear! I have a whistle with which to catch Grant's attention in a store or public place. He, being so diplomatic [sic] just bellows JO! Oh we could write about about spousespeak, can't we? Have a great Saturday. Jo PS I'm still going to answer a question of yours re a post this week and a mail waiting in my inbox. xx

Ann said...

Oh how funny. We have the same problem with the hearing only in reverse since it's me who can't hear. It's funny though because Wade claims to have perfect hearing yet he's always saying "what" when I talk to him. I think he just doesn't want to hear what I'm saying.

Hootin Anni said...

Most all I understand, but I do have a favorite...1/2 a victory sign. Sorry. But, actually I learned that as a child from my mother so don't condone me...it's my ma's fault.

And we don't adjust our clocks...we're retired. No need.

Hootin Anni said...

...well, crapola, I meant to type condemn instead of condone. I have blond roots remember!

Mevely317 said...

Bahahaha! After several years of DH's increasing hearing loss you'd think I'd learn not to try and talk to his back ... or raise my voice unnecessarily in public.
Since hearing aids are (financially) out of the question, I may try and take a page from your book!

Ohmydearests said...

So true!

DawnTreader said...

Well, as long as you understand each other... LOL
I have no one to speak Sign Language to like that.
(Or perhaps I do with some people without being all that aware of it?)

Beatrice P. Boyd said...

Reading this post made me smile, Sandra, because Grenville sometimes says that I whisper when talking to him to which I reply that he should have his hearing checked! of course, he refuses to believe that he might not have heard me.

Linda said...

You know I love you....RIGHT???

Anonymous said...

I think we need to start learning some of that shorthand speak!

Debby@Just Breathe said...

It is great that you have worked that out. I think Mark and I need to work on some hand signals. He is having issues hearing now.