Domestic Harmony

There's a story that Debbie's father, Herbert Notkin, used to tell....

John and Helen were held in high regard in their community for the solidity of their relationship and the absence of public friction between the two of them. friend remarked about this. "It's not just public," said Helen. "Our private life together is peaceful, too. We never argue."

"How can this be?" asked the friend. "I don't know anyone in a marriage, or any other relationship, where they don't have some quarrels or disagreements."

Helen answered, "It's actually quite simple. When we first married, we fought like cats and dogs, but we realized it was too much for us, and we came to an agreement: John makes all the important decisions, and I make all the unimportant ones."

"Like what?"

"I decide things like where we should live, what we should buy for food, whose advice to follow about raising the kids – the unimportant things."

The friend was bemused. "So those are the unimportant decisions. What are the important decisions, the ones John makes?"

"You know," said Helen, "What team should win the Superbowl, whether or not the Democrats need more backbone, what sort of person John Hinderaker is. Important things."