The Monkey Wrench



The monkey wrench.

My husband always manages to throw a monkey wrench into my plans.

I've been grousing the past few days...weeks...years...about how awful my marriage is and how it isn't working. I start contemplating my escape, pricing apartments, figuring how much money I would need to live on in this expensive area I live in (and I have no plans on leaving!).

Then the monkey wrench.

My husband and oldest son recently joined an R&B band. They are the only non-African-Americans in the eight-member band. But my husband and son have got soul. Where did it come from? My husband once sang in a gospel choir. My son listened to a lot of rap and R&B in high school. He even went through a phase of letting his pants hang low.

Last night was the first night they played out together and I was there.

I have to admit, they sounded truly awesome. I was impressed. The food at the restaurant was pricey, but awesome! I had a few glasses of wine, sat back, and enjoyed the music. About a dozen of my son's friends were there, which was pretty cool. When my son stepped up to the microphone to sing, most of his friends jumped up and took pictures and recorded him singing.

And I'm so sick of love songs,
So tired of tears,
So done with wishing you were still here
(Ne-Yo)

My husband told me at least a half-dozen times how thrilled he was that I was there. He introduced me to several of the band members and they said, "Oh, you're beautiful wife." Yes, I blushed.

And the band thanked my for letting them "borrow" my husband and son for two nights a week.

When we woke up this morning, my husband and I talked about the music, the band, the sound.They were truly awesome. He was thrilled it went so well.

In the kitchen, he took me in his arms and told me he loved me and, again, how happy he was that I went. He told me that things are looking up. He wants to save money for a trip to Europe (where we met) for our 25th wedding anniversary (about 2.5 years away).

He told me he loved me.

(oops)
There goes the dreams we used to say
(oops)
There goes the time we spent away
(oops)
There goes the love I had but you cheated on me
And thats for that now
(oops)
There goes the house we made a home
(oops)
There goes you'll never leave me alone
For all the lies you told
This is what you owe
(Blu Cantrell)