My wife has informed me that I’ve been writing too much about technology. My reply was, “This blog’s primary purpose is to help folks relieve stress through humor and there is nothing more stressful than technology!” She said, “According to you, a wife helping her husband hook up a trailer is the biggest challenge you men have to overcome.” Every now and then, Jan hits the nail on the head!
Backing your vehicle up to whatever trailer you want to tow isn’t very high on the list when it comes to dealing with life’s challenges, but it can certainly be stressful – especially if your wife is helping you. This can be one of the biggest strains on any marriage.
Jan will direct me back as if everything is fine. She will give me the signal to stop and I think I have accomplished a perfect “hitching up” only to hear her say, “You need to be about ten inches to the right.” So we try again. More often than not, this ten inch gap becomes either a twelve inch gap in the other direction or, even worse; it becomes an eighteen inch gap! Even if I do improve on the ten inch gap – let’s say to six inches – I still can’t hitch up the trailer. And then I try again and stand a good chance of going back to the original ten inch differential. I think the term “a vicious cycle” was first used by some poor soul trying to hitch up to their trailer.
By this time, I realize I am in a “lose – lose” situation. Even though I will finally hook up the trailer, I will be sleeping on
the couch. You would think the law of averages, or even Murphy’s Law, would kick in sometimes and I would get out of my vehicle, walk back to my trailer, and voila – everything lines up.
There has got to be a better way! We can send a rocket to Mars and land it within inches of a desired landing spot but the only way we can hitch up a trailer is by trial and error…and risking the chance – let me rephrase that – guaranteeing the chance that our wives will give us the silent treatment for at least 24 hours.
My friend, Mike Elkins, invented the perfect “stress reliever” for hitching up a trailer. Mike is in no way a “technological” genius, which is probably the reason he figured out this “gizmo.” Had a computer been involved, it would have become way too complicated. His marketing slogan is, “Hitch up your trailer and save your marriage!”
Its simplicity amazes even me and I am about as simple a person as there is (I think that came out wrong). Instead of me trying to explain it to you, go to http://EasyTrailerHitchGuide.com and watch the short video. This just proves that a little common sense is the answer to lots of the things that stresses us in life.
Disclaimer: “Jan, I’m not really talking about us dear. I’m just using us as a literary example. I’m talking about them and their wives! This is just that ‘humor thingy” I do!”
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{ 4 comments… read them below or add one }
I’m really glad that you added the disclaimer. That is simply the smart thing to do.
Jim Bob, again you have magnificently treated a topic that I’m already kicking myself that I didn’t think of first! We’ve all been there. Seems to me like you treat humor as a hammer, and see all the world as a nail.
As usual, though, I can offer a rejoinder that will perhaps be helpful to you and to Jan. As has been the case in earlier observations, most misshaped situations can be squared with aims to get better. If you’ll keep your aim steady toward becoming a better speaker, Jan will ultimately be able to hitch her wagon to a star….
After 1or2 times, I discovered that if I wanted to get along with my wife, it’s better to hook onto the trailer by myself. It does take 5-6 times getting in and out of the car, but it’s worth it.
Phil
Jim Bob, I sympathize with you on the trailer hook up. Have you ever had to have Jan to pull you in another vehicle with a chain or tow rope? I hope not as it can be as frustrating as hooking up the trailer. My wife swore the last time she pulled me it was the last and it has been for 15 years.
GOD BLESS
Roy