Firefly

My husband really enjoys fantasy type television shows and movies. Me, not so much. He had a birthday earlier this month and he got quite a lot of cash. With some of it he purchased a television series on DVD called Firefly. I'd never even heard of it before but he really wanted me to watch some of it. The line he gave me was, "I really think you'll enjoy the characterization. Each character is just really well developed." Do you think he's learned how to speak my language in the last five years or what? I told him, as kindly as I could muster, that the problem we have is this...

Me: You really want me to like it. And I'm just not going to like it. Then, when it's over, you'll ask me if I liked it. I'll either have to lie* so as not to hurt your feelings or I'll have to be honest. If I lie, I will be forced to endure countless more hours of watching it but your feelings will be preserved. If I tell the truth, you'll feel bad for wasting an hour of my life. I cannot envision a scenario where we both win.

Troy: I'll give you a massage while you watch it.

Me: See, that's why I married you. This is a win-win situation.

Last night we were going to watch a movie but then Troy had to take care of a situation and was on the phone for awhile. We didn't really want to start a two hour movie at 10:00 pm. Long gone are those days. So I asked him if he wanted to watch something on TV or watch a television DVD instead.

Troy: Sure, let's watch an episode of Friends.

Me: Or we could watch an episode of Firefly.

Troy: No it's okay. We can watch Friends tonight.

Me: Or we could watch an episode of Firefly.

Troy: I really don't mind watching Friends.

Me: Or we could watch an episode of Firefly.

Troy: Alright. Sit in front of me.

Ah compromise. Or, in this case, repeating myself until he agrees that the best thing for everyone in this marriage is for me to get a back rub.

Truthfully--and do not tell my husband this part--I kind of like it. It took me a little while to get into but, it's true, I do like the characterization. It's a total win-win. For me anyway.

* Carol, write this down. I really try to tell the truth because rule number 3 in the Pastor's Wife Handbook is that thou shalt not lie. It does state that it's okay to tell partial truths if absolutely necessary and then it goes on to list a few examples. Like how, as the pastor's wife, you can't really go over to someones house to deliver a meal after they've had a baby and declare, "Boy, that kid really got creamed on the way out, didn't she?" Or "Man alive I hope he grows into that nose." Instead you should choose a feature that you find cute regardless of the attractiveness of said child. A good response is always, "She's so tiny. Look at those sweet sweet toes." If the mother replies, "I know. Isn't she adorable?" You counter with, "Oh, I just adore her. Can I have her or are you pretty attached?" It should be noted that I, personally, find just about every baby to be precious and basically want to bring all of them home with me. I'm merely telling you what it says in The Handbook.