Hi Bill,
I also have a wife and three younger kids. I can relate to your story,
because initially, while my wife was supportive of my acquiring and working
on my '67 Spitfire, I think she's beginning to resent the time that it's
taking, especially since I have such a busy schedule anyway. Unlike your
wife, mine has no interest in LBC's or going to shows whatsoever. I'll be
lucky if she'll even go for a ride with me when I get the car off the jack
stands. I'm fine with that. My wife jokingly said that I should name the
car "Mrs. Jones" -- that woman DOES have a great sense of humor. The name
has stuck, I think. Me and Mrs. Jones... we've got a thing going on..."
Ha ha.
For one thing, if you're not doing so already, invest in a box of latex
surgical gloves to keep your hands clean. Also, take care not to track
grease inside the house (like I did). Surprise your wife with a coupon book
for free lattes at Starbucks. Then, while she's out having her coffee, work
on your car, ha ha. I work from home, so I try to find time to spend time
with Mrs. Jones while my wife is away whenever possible, to lesson the
impact of my hobby on the wife. I don't know about your wife, but having
the garage cluttered and messy drives her nuts. Of course, having my tools
spread all around the car doesn't help matters.
Personally, I think that your work habits are really nice. Unless you're
banging things around in the garage and waking everyone up at five in the
morning! Maybe if you trade ONE of your TR's for that Morris woody... Just
a thought. Naaah, just buy her the Starbucks coupons! Sincerely, I wish
you all the best. I think it's nice that you're trying to keep your wife
happy.
Best wishes,
Jeff in San Diego
'67 RHD Spitfire Mk3 (that one of these days, I might even get to drive!)
http://www.ohms.com/spitfire/spitfire.shtml
----- Original Message -----
From: Bill Brewer <bbrewer@lightspeed.net>
To: <triumphs@autox.team.net>
Sent: Thursday, January 20, 2000 6:12 AM
Subject: Triumphs verse Wife
>
> Hey Listers,
> This is a serious and sensitive issue.
> SWMBO (She Who Must Be Obeyed), IE my wife, has a problem with my
cars
> (two TR-3's). I get up at 0430 every morning to work on them while she and
> our three young children are still sleeping. I get 90 minutes personal
time
> every morning which is divided 50/50 between Triumphs and studying the
> Bible. I find it easy to jump out of bed at the thought of being able to
> work on the car with a hot cup of tea, unmolested.
> My kids love to ride in the TR.
> My wife thinks that it is okay sometimes.
>
> I am trying to placate my wife. I do things that might help her to
join
> and enjoy my hobby. Our British car club is very wife friendly and
> essentially everyone comes with their wife. I take her with me to two
yearly
> car shows (and shopping after) and see if she likes any aspect of the
hobby.
> It turns out that she has always loved Morris Minor Woody Wagons
> (Travellers). There may be one in our garage someday.
> If my wife came home and caught me in bed with her best friend she
> would say "Well at least he wasn't working on that F***ing Triumph."
> The Triumph and airplane were both here long before the wife. Maybe
> they are the last strongholds of bachelorhood that she is trying to purge.
> Can any listers provide any usefull lessons learned and helpful
> suggestions? There could be some real nuggets of wisdom out there.
> I love my wife and am a dedicated husband and father. My wife views
the
> Triumph as the "other woman". I feel that life is too short not to drive a
> roadster.
> Thanks
> Bill Brewer
>
>
>
>
>
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