Mark prided himself on being an attentive husband. So when his wife Emily mentioned wanting to “be six again” for her milestone birthday, he sprang into action. Visions of cotton candy and rollercoasters danced in his head as he secretly planned their trip to Funland amusement park.
The big day arrived, and Mark blindfolded Emily for the surprise. Her initial excitement turned to concern as ride after stomach-churning ride left them both queasy. By sunset, they could barely stand, let alone enjoy the birthday cake Mark had packed.
Back home, as Emily lay moaning on the couch, Mark asked hopefully, “Did I make you feel six again?” Emily weakly threw a pillow at him. “Six was my DRESS SIZE, not my age!” she groaned.
This comedy of errors reveals an important truth about communication: intention matters more than interpretation. Men often take women’s words at face value, while women frequently speak in nuance. The magic happens when we bridge that gap – when “I want to feel young again” prompts a conversation rather than assumptions. Maybe next year, Mark will ask follow-up questions before planning another vomit-inducing adventure.
