I made a pledge to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage.
I
made
a
pledge
to
myself
on
the
way
down
to
the
vacation
beach
cottage
.
For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father.
For
two
weeks
I
would
try
to
be
a
loving
husband
and
father
.
Totally loving.
Totally
loving
.
No ifs, ands or buts.
No
ifs
,
ands
or
buts
.
The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio.
The
idea
had
come
to
me
as
I
listened
to
a
talk
on
my
car
radio
.
The speaker was quoting a Biblical passage about husbands being considerate towards their wives.
The
speaker
was
quoting
a
Biblical
passage
about
husbands
being
considerate
towards
their
wives
.
Then he went on to say, "Love is an act of will.
Then
he
went
on
to
say
,
``
Love
is
an
act
of
will
.
A person can choose to love."
A
person
can
choose
to
love
.
''
To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband.
To
myself
,
I
had
to
admit
that
I
had
been
a
selfish
husband
.
Well, for two weeks that would change.
Well
,
for
two
weeks
that
would
change
.
And it did.
And
it
did
.
Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said, "That new yellow sweater looks great on you."
Right
from
the
moment
I
kissed
Evelyn
at
the
door
and
said
,
``
That
new
yellow
sweater
looks
great
on
you
.
''
"Oh, Tom, you noticed," she said, surprised and pleased, maybe a little puzzled.
``
Oh
,
Tom
,
you
noticed
,
''
she
said
,
surprised
and
pleased
,
maybe
a
little
puzzled
.
After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read.
After
the
long
drive
,
I
wanted
to
sit
and
read
.
Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach.
Evelyn
suggested
a
walk
on
the
beach
.
I started to refuse, but then I thought, "Evelyn's been alone here with the kids all the week and now she wants to stay with me."
I
started
to
refuse
,
but
then
I
thought
,
``
Evelyn
's
been
alone
here
with
the
kids
all
the
week
and
now
she
wants
to
stay
with
me
.
''
We walked on the beach when the children flew their kites.
We
walked
on
the
beach
when
the
children
flew
their
kites
.
So it went.
So
it
went
.
Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums.
Two
weeks
of
not
calling
the
Wall
Street
firm
where
I
am
a
director
;
a
visit
to
the
shell
museum
though
I
usually
hate
museums
.
Relaxed and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed, I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love.
Relaxed
and
happy
,
that
's
how
the
whole
vacation
passed
,
I
made
a
new
pledge
to
keep
on
remembering
to
choose
love
.
There was
There
was
that went wrong with my experiment, however.
that
went
wrong
with
my
experiment
,
however
.
Evelyn and I still laugh about it today.
Evelyn
and
I
still
laugh
about
it
today
.
Last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.
Last
night
at
our
cottage
,
preparing
for
bed
,
Evelyn
stared
at
me
with
the
saddest
expression
.
"What's the matter?"
``
What
's
the
matter
?
''
I asked her.
I
asked
her
.
"Tom," she said in a voice filled with sorrow, "do you know anything I don't?"
``
Tom
,
''
she
said
in
a
voice
filled
with
sorrow
,
``
do
you
know
anything
I
do
n't
?
''
"What do you mean?"
``
What
do
you
mean
?
''
"Well...that checkup I had several weeks ago...our doctor...Did he tell you anything about me?
``
Well
...
that
checkup
I
had
several
weeks
ago
...
our
doctor
...
Did
he
tell
you
anything
about
me
?
Tom, you've been so good to me...Am I dying?"
Tom
,
you
've
been
so
good
to
me
...
Am
I
dying
?
''
It took a moment for it all to sink in.
It
took
a
moment
for
it
all
to
sink
in
.
Then I burst out laughing.
Then
I
burst
out
laughing
.
"No, honey," I said, wrapping her in my arms.
``
No
,
honey
,
''
I
said
,
wrapping
her
in
my
arms
.
"You're not dying;
``
You
're
not
dying
;
."
.
''
I made a pledge to myself on the way down to the vacation beach cottage. For two weeks I would try to be a loving husband and father. Totally loving. No ifs, ands or buts.  The idea had come to me as I listened to a talk on my car radio. The speaker was quoting a Biblical passage about husbands being considerate towards their wives. Then he went on to say, "Love is an act of will. A person can choose to love." To myself, I had to admit that I had been a selfish husband. Well, for two weeks that would change.  And it did. Right from the moment I kissed Evelyn at the door and said, "That new yellow sweater looks great on you."  "Oh, Tom, you noticed," she said, surprised and pleased, maybe a little puzzled.  After the long drive, I wanted to sit and read. Evelyn suggested a walk on the beach. I started to refuse, but then I thought, "Evelyn's been alone here with the kids all the week and now she wants to stay with me." We walked on the beach when the children flew their kites.  So it went. Two weeks of not calling the Wall Street firm where I am a director; a visit to the shell museum though I usually hate museums. Relaxed and happy, that's how the whole vacation passed, I made a new pledge to keep on remembering to choose love. There was  that went wrong with my experiment, however. Evelyn and I still laugh about it today. Last night at our cottage, preparing for bed, Evelyn stared at me with the saddest expression.  "What's the matter?" I asked her.  "Tom," she said in a voice filled with sorrow, "do you know anything I don't?"  "What do you mean?"  "Well...that checkup I had several weeks ago...our doctor...Did he tell you anything about me? Tom, you've been so good to me...Am I dying?"  It took a moment for it all to sink in. Then I burst out laughing.  "No, honey," I said, wrapping her in my arms. "You're not dying;  ."