What is a reasonable number of stories any partner in a relationship should be able to re-tell, no matter how many times their partner has heard them? How about one story for each year the partnership has existed?
I'm guessing my wife will object to me having 41 stories I could re-tell indefinitely. Come to think of it, I'm tired of several of hers as well and 41 is a big number. So how about one story that can be told in perpetuity for each decade a partnership has been together? That would limit each of us to 4 stories apiece. Not bad, even if I do think my stories are better. Since I'm 4+ years older I think I also deserve at least one more story for my seniority. But .. How about for partnerships under 10 years in duration? I need your help there.
Next questions: Who gets to choose which stories get told - teller or pained listener? In our case, maybe I pick 3 of mine (+ 1 more for my seniority) and she gets to pick my fifth. Then she picks 3 of her own and I pick #4. That seems fair, right? Do all the stories have to be from the time period since we've been together or do we each get 1 or more that pre-dates the partnership?
Last: Should there be such a thing as an expiration date on any story? How old must that story be? For my wife and I this is not a major problem; some of our stories are now so old we have trouble remembering them anyway. And the really old ones have changed so much, they're new now.
I could never keep track of those types of rules. “How many did we agree to?” I’m self conscious of telling the same story though our kids tell me I do. It’s unavoidable. My wife’s stories give me comfort.
ReplyDeleteHey Jim; Good to see a comment from you. I have trouble keeping track of our ever-changing rules too. But there are clearly a few of my stories that are sure to make you-know-who crazy; those are the ones I make sure to repeat a lot. And like you, I get comfort from my wife's stories, even the ones I've heard way too many times.
DeleteI don't feel like you tell too many stories over and over again, but maybe mom would disagree!!
ReplyDeleteOh boy would she ever! Ask me to tell the Joe Long story sometime and watch her eyes roll!
DeleteI think that’s too many rules. Maybe just leave the room at the repeats you can’t deal with!!����
ReplyDeleteTerry; Been a long time; good to have you back. Hope to "see" you here more often.
DeleteLOL! What does Kim say about the only four for her rule with you being able to pick one of them? I like Terry's suggestion or just tune out when there is an oft repeated one! I am really good at that. LOL again!
ReplyDeleteInes; I didn't ask her. Should I have? Thanks for reading.
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