Definition of a Writer

Due to a knee injury, my handsome husband has been home and flat-on-his-back for close to a week now. The first couple of days I was truly kind, gentle and understanding. I made him breakfast on my two days off; I made him hot lunches; I made him wonderful balanced evening meals. I brought him his bottled water; I brought him his pain medication; I brought him the morning newspaper. I even made him hot chocolate with whipped cream. On Day #4 I was exhausted and I was DONE playing nursemaid, line cook, bartender, driver, and so much more.

My life had been turned upside down. My schedule flew out the window the moment he twisted his knee and stooped over like an 82-year old man. No privacy; no quiet; no reality TV; no extra cups of coffee for me, myself and I. All about him. Boo hoo.

I will say it for you: "This woman is mighty selfish." Yes, you are correct in your estimation. I don't mind giving but I don't like being played. I don't care for a person milking the situation for all its worth. He loved the attention. He loved being the baby of the family.

Today he actually got off the couch to go into his garage. Imagine my delight! I immediately used the carpet sweeper, spritzed Febreeze both on the couch and his makeshift bed. I cleaned the toilet and put his tootbrush away. I turned on my favorite radio station, lit a candle, and plucked my eyebrows before he came back to his perch.

I cannot wait until Tuesday when he goes back to work. I am not the kind of wife that enjoys being a Siamese twin. I'm the kind of woman that needs her personal space, and I feel much happier when I follow a schedule I've set for myself.

At least I'm honest about my selfishness. And that leads me to a blurb that I read last night (he was on the toilet so I managed to pick up a book myself). The paperback is Cleopatra, A Life by Stacy Schiff. Referring to the character Cicero is was written:

"He was a great writer, which is to say self-absorbed, with an outsize ego and a fanatical sensitivity to slights real and imagined."

The one sentence says it all. Its something I've always believed, but could never put into words. I think its a fine definition of writer. Do you agree?

Would love to hear your thoughts on the subject.