The Grossness of Wondering

We were driving through the Ozarks

of Southern Missouri on a family

vacation. I had one hand on the wheel,

my wife at the time sat in the

passenger seat beside me. The two

kids were quietly observing the

scenery from the back seat. A lovely

day filled with wonder and amazement,

I said while rolling something between

my forefinger and thumb. Hmm, that’s

weird, really strange I said to my wife

as she turned to look at me curiously.

What, she asked, noticing me rolling

something in my right hand? Well, I

told he with a tone of mystery, it’s kind

of like plastic, but it has the softness

and pliability, the elasticity of rubber.

Very strange indeed. Intrigued, my wife

said, let me see...give that to me. And I

did, reaching over to hand her the object

I had been twirling so intently between

my finger and thumb. She took it and

began rolling it in her fingers as I had

done. She inspected that peculiar thing.

Huh, that is odd. Where did you find that,

she asked? I glanced over to look at her

briefly but seriously, then turned my eyes

back to focus on the road, giving her an

answer I am sure she was not anxious to

receive...I pulled it out of my nose. She

squeamishly responded with a disgusted,

Eeew!! and got rid of it immediately. I

could see she was definitely not amused.

That was my first marriage. I was amazed,

as I am sure she was too, that our union lasted

the better (or worst) part of seventeen years.

Chris Hanch 1-31-18