This Midlife Calling

When hubby brought home an Alfa 146 and painted it chilli red (ooops, sorry Ferrari Red), I told people he's going through a midlife crisis and then we have a good guffaw about it. He loved the car, took pains and pleasure to have her (yes, her) restored to her former glory, and to her right resonant VROOOM. I could always tell when he had returned home by that sexy low-pitched growl......

I didn't realise however that the eye he had on a younger and different model, the 156 at Ivor's workshop had turned SERIOUS. It was in it's original silver colour and looked as if it had seen better days, which in all probabilty it had. Apparently it's one and only owner had upgraded to a slinkier model.

One evening he came home extra early grinning from ear to ear.

"Aiit... Bang, why are you home so early?" (Oldstock's eyes are rolling)

"I wasn't at the office, I just came back from a conference", still grinning

"Where was your conference held?"

"PWTC", grinning

"Aiit... and you came straight home? How come you didn't stop by at the gym?"

"I didn't feel like it", grinning

"Are you going out again?"

"After solat, yeah"

"Oh OK, where?"

"Just Ivor's workshop" still grinning

"Oh OK", (thinking..... he's in a good mood, either the boss gave him a raise, the overseas trip is on, or he lost 5kg)


When he returned from Ivor's, I was fixing Olio in the kitchen.

"Hey Good-looking, whatchu got cooking?" (well, not quite like that)

"Olio"

"Waaah it's an ITALIAN night we're having tonight aren't we?" *winks*

"Huh? This is what you wanted, right?" How clueless could I get?


And there SHE (yes, she) was outside gleaming under the lamp-post as I walked to the red-she to go to usrah.

"No, no the yellow one" says Amal no. 2 son.

"What.???"

"hehehe" grinning (guess who?).

SURPRISE!!!!

And by the way, it's not just yellow, it's Ferrari Yellow.

Later my eldest daughter asked "So do you think bapak's going through another midlife crisis?"

"Don't know what you call it, but some men go through this phase. Your grandfather bought a red Mazda 929 sports coupe at that age as well, and a blue Alfasud sometime later. At least it was blue. Grandma put her foot down when he wanted an open-top convertible next."

Anyway, the point I'm trying to make is that: guys, when your wife starts asking what you imagine to be loaded questions, and you have NOT somehow, somewhere and at some time been up to no bloody good (expression stolen from "Tea and Scones" latest entry) don't get all flustered as if you are doing her a big favour giving off some of your breath and time.

Just cut the mood and the cryptic replies, give her a big warm smile or a grin and get on with telling her what she likes to know. And if you still get irritable and snap at her at such a little thing as being curious and wanting to be a part of your life, that means only one thing: YOU'RE GOING THROUGH A MIDLIFE CRISIS!

Here are some of the tell-tale signs: (from What is a Midlife Crisis)

• Unhappiness with life and the lifestyle that may have provided you with happiness for many years.
• Boredom with people and things that may have been of interest to you before.
• Feeling a need for adventure and change.
• Questioning the choices, you have made in your lives and the validity of decisions you made years before.
• Confusion about who you are and where you are going.
• Anger at your spouse and blame for feeling tied down.
• Unable to make decisions about where you want to go with your life.
• Doubt that you ever loved your spouse and resentment over the marriage.
• A desire for a new and passionate, intimate relationship

Recognise any?




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