My husband and I had been married about two years - long enough for me to realize that he was a normal man rather than a knight on a white charger - when I read a magazine article recommending that married couples schedule regular talks to discuss, truthfully and candidly, the habits or mannerisms they find annoying in each other. The theory was that if the partners knew of such annoyances, they could correct them before resentful feelings developed.
The Grapefruit Syndrome
It made sense to me. I talked with my husband about the idea. After some hesitation, he agreed to give it a try.
As I recall, we were to name five things we found annoying, and I started off. After more that fifty years, I remember only my first complaint: grapefruit. I told him that I didn't like the way he ate grapefruit. He peeled it and ate it like an orange! Nobody else I knew ate grapefruit like that. Could a girl be expected to spend a lifetime, and even eternity, watching her husband eat grapefruit like an orange? although I have forgotten them, I'm sure the rest of my complaints were similar.
After I finished, it was his turn to tell the things he disliked about me. Though it has been more than half a century, I still carry a mental image of my husband's handsome young face as he gathered his brows together in a thoughtful, puzzled frown and then looked at me with his large blue-gray eyes and said, "Well, to tell you the truth, I can't think of anything I don't like about you, Honey."
Gasp!
I quickly turned my back, because I didn't know how to explain the tears that had filled my eyes and were running down my face. I had found fault with him over such trivial things as the way he ate grapefruit, while he hadn't even noticed any of my peculiar and no doubt annoying ways.
I wish I could say that this experience completely cured me of fault finding. It didn't. But it did make me aware early in my marriage that husbands and wives need to keep in perspective, and usually ignore, the small differences in their habits and personalities. Whenever I hear of married couples being incompatible, I always wonder if they are suffering from what I now call the Grapefruit Syndrome.
I love this, I got this story from my Aunts blog. It makes me realize I get like this every once in a while with Trent. I cannot believe the patience Trent has with me and my crazy and annoying faults. Everyday I wake up thinking that I am the luckiest woman in this world! I love Trenton so much and all the happiness he brings me in life. We are not married yet, (though I wish we were) but I know that in our marriage we will have hard trials. But I cant imagine choosing anyone else I would want by my side, holding my hand, encouraging me along the way than Trenton :) I love you Hunny with all my heart! You are my Mr. Incredible <3
