Two of the men were already exercising when the third man appeared. For the sake of the story, let's call the third man Bob and his friends Frank and John. Their conversation went something like this:
Bob: Guten Morgen! (Good morning, in German)
Frank: Guten Morgen! Wie geht's? (Good morning! How are you?)
Frank continues saying a few sentences in German.
Bob: I have no idea what you're saying. I don't know why, but I'm having difficulties remembering the words. The lessons are not helping. You're doing great, but Im hopeless.
Frank: You just need to practice.
A few minutes of exercise goes by.
Frank: Isn't your wife's birthday coming up? Do you know what you're getting her?
Bob: Yes, I saw this really expensive and high-tech bathroom scale. It will be perfect!
Frank: Wow, you dare to give your wife a bathroom scale?!? Isn't she going to be upset?
Bob: But she says she wants to loose a few pounds and that we need to buy a scale.
Frank: I'm no marriage counselor, but is it really a good idea to give a woman a bathroom scale? She might want to loose weight, but I'm sure she doesn't want you to want her to loose weight.
Bob: You think? Well, I don't want to upset her.
John joins the conversation
John: My wife loved the gift I got for her birthday. I don't know if you've seen them, but there are fancy aprons that look like dresses nowadays. She's always in the kitchen so it was a perfect gift.
Frank: Bob, don't buy your wife an apron. John, I don't know how to tell you this but your wife didn't like the gift. She was happy you got her a gift, but my wife told me she was upset that you only thought she was good for cooking.
John: But she told me she loved it... Well, Frank, you seem to know it all. What do you think Bob should give his wife?
Frank (turns to Bob): You could take your wife out to the theatre or to a nice restaurant. And don't forget to buy flowers! You must buy flowers, it's the flowers they remember.
Bob: A nice restaurant you say... Have you been to any good ones lately?
The three men walk away discussing restaurants.
There are so many things I love about this conversation. Without knowing, I imagine that they have been married to their wives for a while. Still clueless and still trying to figure them out. Even Frank. The way he mentioned the flowers was not because he understood why his wife loved flowers, but he had learnt throughout the years that when he buys flowers she responds in a positive way.
Also, cudos to anyone who picks up a new hobby, skill or language, especially when you reach a certain age. These men go to the gym, are learning German and go out to new restaurants and shows. I'm sure they will live a long, healthy and rewarding life, for many years to come.
The trick is to send your wife flowers at work. Lots of flowers. With the little choclate box as well so that she can be gracious to her envious coworkers.
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