Dear Ann Landers: My husband and I recently had dinner with three couples who are all slightly younger than we are.
After we had eaten, my husband asked me if I would please get him a soft drink. I obligingly got him a soft drink and thought nothing of it. Much to my astonishment, I soon found myself defending my actions.
I received a severe tongue lashing from the other women for “waiting on my husband.” I was told that I should have instructed him to go get the drink himself.
My question is this, Ann: What has happened to common courtesy? No wonder there is so much marital strife in this country. The new breed of woman is so afraid she might be looked down on or lose her freedom if she extends to her husband the same common courtesy she expects from him that she has become crass and hard-boiled.
On occasion, my husband does go overboard with the “get me” routine, but because I love him and appreciate the things he does for me, I don’t mind doing things for him.
He probably would not want me telling anyone, but he sometimes cleans the house, cooks dinner, washes clothes and does the dishes. Much of what I do for him is reciprocal, and I don’t mind it one bit.
Will you please express your views about this in your column? I consider myself a liberated woman and resent the implication that I am allowing my husband to treat me like a servant. Or am I wrong?
“Rosie” in Colorado
Dear “Rosie”: You should not need to defend yourself against women whose ideas are different from yours. Apparently you and your husband don’t mind sharing work and doing things for each other as equal partners should.
Responding to a simple request does not constitute servitude. If a woman friend asked you to bring her a soft drink, would you respond differently? Those dames should be told to heed the old axiom, M.Y.O.B.
Choked up about doctors
Dear Ann Landers: I am writing this to keep from choking a doctor. I am a medical transcriptionist. I transcribe what doctors dictate about their medical patients.
I am well aware that doctors are overworked and pressed for time. Often they try to find ways of doing two things at once. But eating and dictating at the same time is about to drive my co-workers and me crazy. The chomping, talking and gulping are downright crude and annoying.
We have left carefully worded notes, to no avail. We have asked the nurse who provides these snacks to please wait until the doctors are finished dictating. She scoffs at us as if our complaints aren’t important enough to bother with.
I hope these doctors will see themselves in this letter and click off the microphone while they chew, swallow and gulp. If they don’t stop talking while their mouths are full of food, some day they will need a little surgery themselves-like a dictaphonectomy from the terminal orifice of the alimentary canal.
Clenched Teeth in Nebraska
Dear Clenched Teeth: While your letter may be amusing to some, I’m sure it has validity. I’ll bet that you get your point across and that the results will be gratifying.
Gem of the Day: A person who has everything should be quarantined.
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