Penny-Pinching Lovers

With $200 or less, readers make a big-time investment in their marriages

Annette LaPlaca and Sarah Rossi

Average Rating: Not rated

[0 Comment]

There are no previous pages

1 of 2

In the Closet

Keith and I admired a dress we saw in the Land's End catalog. Then one evening after feeling covetous, I told him, "When I look at this catalog, I see lots of things I want. But as long as I leave the catalog alone, I don't want them."

Keith solemnly replied, "Sometimes it's enough just to want the things in your own closet."

Impressed by his wisdom, I went off to my night job. I never stopped to think how out of character his statement was for someone whose two favorite words are "Buy it!" I didn't know Keith had ordered the dress.

In the morning, when I was changing after work, I yelled, "Hey! There's a blue dress in the closet!"

Keith solemnly replied, "Sometimes it's enough just to want the things in your own closet."

CHERYL and KEITH GATLING Syracuse, NY

Cyberlove

Before my husband left on a business trip, he spent $29 on a cheap computer modem so we could e-mail each other. We were trying to settle into a new home, and it was a hard week. I was homeschooling two of my kids while keeping up with a two-year-old, and I was seven months pregnant. It was great, after a challenging day, to find a message from Victor. I wrote back with all my thoughts and the day's adventures.

Somehow our e-mail messages helped us "talk" with greater clarity. That separation enhanced our intimacy instead of weakening it.

SARA and VICTOR GAULTNEY Duncanville, TX

Magic Fingers

While we were engaged, Lisa found a massage course listed in a community college catalog. She looked at me, and I knew what she was thinking. I told her, "If you pay, I'll go."

All but two of the people in the class were women, but they applauded when they heard my reason for being there. I learned the basic strokes and got a feeling for the different muscles.

Today, Lisa claims the $28 enrollment fee was the best investment she ever made.

LISA and ALFREDO UMAN;A San Pedro Sula, Honduras

Big Comfy Couch

My husband, Robert, has been best friends with Hector since childhood. Hector's folks had a big, brown corduroy sofa. That couch went off to college with Hector, where it endured all-night study sessions and frat parties. Then it went with him when he married.

When Robert and I got married, we lived with Hector and his wife in order to share rent expenses. When we moved out, we had no furniture or bedding, so Hector sold us two twin beds, a dresser, an old TV and VCR and the couch—all for $200.

Now we've got other furniture, but we refuse to get rid of our cushy heirloom. It's part of the family—and its cushions are still inviting!

MINERVA and ROBERT SPENCER Bronx, NY

A Childhood Dream Come True

My husband, Mike, always listened as I told him some of my hurts from childhood. Once I mentioned how my dad, who didn't spend much time with my brother and me, used to take us occasionally to ride go-karts. Then he brought home an old go-kart for my brother, but my brother didn't care about go-karting, while I wished and wished that I could have that go-kart. It hurt that my dad never noticed it was me who longed to work on the go-kart with him.

next page... |

There are no previous pages

1 of 2

Originally published in: Marriage Partnership, 1998, Fall

More from Annette LaPlaca and Sarah Rossi:
Kyria.com | Books

Join the Kyria.com Community!

Become a member to have access to the following:

Full access to the bimonthly Kyria digizine, each issue focusing on a spiritual discipline or theme
50 percent discount on all of the downloadable resources in the Kyria Store
Hundreds of members-only articles for thoughtful, influential women