Tucson (03/27/2005)

This week after finishing my charity quilts and visiting Tombstone, I bought some fabric to make some new quilts. Then I started working on the new quilts.
In regard to the Norris space wars: my standard response when Rich doesn't put things away has been to come along and put 'it' away. It occured to me that was the perfect world for Rich. He goes to where 'it' belongs, takes 'it' out, uses 'it', and sets 'it' down wherever. I come along and put 'it' away so he can find 'it' next time. So I stoppped putting 'it' away. I move 'it' out of my way but not where 'it' belongs (hide 'it', sounds childish but effective). The first thing that happened was I put things under his clothes next to the sink and after a few days he put away his clothes. After 38 years of marriage, one step in the right direction. Now I am working on a new place for things to go. Today we talked about it and he had actually noticed. The other new behavior is about when we are shopping and Rich takes off. My standard behavior in the past has been to get frustrated, search for Rich, and think how nice it would be to have a tantrum like a 2 year old. Now I am taking my cell phone and calling to find out where he is. After the first time, Rich started looking back and slowing down for me. I still have to try it again. But at least I am not acting or thinking crazy (same old behavior looking for a new response). Three steps forward.