A woman can turn totally frigid, snap at her husband if he so much as touches her, nag him until he can’t stand the sight of her… but it’s the MAN’s fault if he spends time with a woman who makes him feel better.
In a very broad sense almost everything is a competition. As long as we have a choice even the most horrible options can be compared. For the unlucky ones who found themselves at the top of the World Trade Center on 9/11, some had to choose between fire and the fall. For at least some the fall had more to offer. In this case, Steve has put himself at a serious disadvantage. More is the shame there should be so many more losers as a result.
Unfortunately, she’s just not thinking appropriately for a woman who’s been married for years and has children, too. She doesn’t seem to have a clue that a husband needs demonstative love and adult conversation and one on one time. What gives? SHe must have been exceedingly young when she got married. Or…….he never really got involved with the marriage….put with the kids….and did his own thing. They need counselling in a big way.
So many women get complacent when they have been married for a few years. It’s very important to remember that the husband is surrounded by attractive intelligent women at the office. I’ve always believed that it’s important to look attractive before you say goodbye to your husband in the morning. That will be the picture in his mind when he meets some pretty young things at the office. And make sure that the evening meal you offer him is yummy. Men are simple creatures really, keep them happy in bed and feed them well and they will be putty in your hands. :)
My Mom once told my sister, “You primped to get him. Primp to keep him.” The same goes for the guys. It takes a little work to make a marriage work. It’s worth it.
One thing; I don’t have to worry about the “office romance” on either side in our marriage. My boss’ wife sat in on my job interview. One of the reasons I was hired was because she trusted me; she could tell that I was in a dedicated marriage, and that her husband wasn’t attracted to me physically. In the 10 years we’ve worked together he has never been improper with me, but he also trusts me with confidences and some personal stuff. I’m really like his “office wife”…without the physical stuff, and his wife knows and appreciates it. As for my husband, he works 3rd shift with a team he can barely tolerate, plus they have a strict fraternization rule.
A good demonstration of the stuff going through a person’s head as they’re being cheated on- the self-doubt, the regrets, etc. Her note about “facing competition for my own husband” is sadly pretty much true of everyone.
Sadly, part of it’s probably true, which is why it stings- the “other woman” is more exciting, more attractive, etc. I don’t think it’s a mistake that Anne (who was gone from the strip by the time I started reading- it’s weird seeing her in all these old ones) is drawn the least-attractive of Elly and her friends, and is the one who got cheated on while Connie was always sought-after by men.
Some people are just born to stray, however. Especially powerful or rich men, who are more or less born competitive (which DEFINITELY extends to “scoring tail”), and usually have women freely offer themselves to them. Some guys are just “players”- I’ve had friends like that, who found women easy to get, then tried to settle down… it never works- they end up straying because it’s just so easy. Kind of an unfair thing for women… if they find a man who’s highly desirable (because he’s powerful and/or attractive)… OTHER WOMEN will desire him too, and he’s at a much greater risk of straying. The cold hard fact some have to accept is “marrying down”, because then the guy will be more grateful and less likely to drop them! I think there’s even been studies on that- marriages where the woman is more attractive than the man are more likely to succeed!
Lynn’s usual “over-sharing” is likely on display, as these were probably her own rationalizations about her first husband’s straying. And boy, does she like that “holding the hands down & open” pose a lot.
Punch lines like this seemed to come to me through some outside resource. I had wondered this very thing…in both my marriages. What did I have to do to prove that I was worth keeping?
Andy Williams singing “Wives and Lovers” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qne9RA2lfg4. Bear in mind this came out in 1963! I don’t really have an opinion here -there’s sense on both sides.
So many comments on what a wife should do to keep the husband from straying. What about the husband’s role? Too often it’s from charm to chains. Who wants a grubby, grumpy slob expecting to be waited on hand, foot, and in between but who won’t offer to help around the house or with the kids or make plans for a special evening with her because, “I work hard all day, bring home the paycheck, and am too tired”?
It would be interesting, and certainly more constructive, if somebody actually STUDIED and not only commented the reasons (social, cultural, ideological) why failure rate of marriages is so high nowadays, and why in USA is much higher (around 50%, rising) than, say, in Italy (around 30%, also rising). I mean, if you consider money factors ONLY you should NEVER get married- good food and good sex are much cheaper when “bought at need” than sharing house and resources with a permanent companion. It is not about kids, because birth rates are precipitating both in all the “civilised” world, and are not related to whealth (inversely, if any). So? Ideas?
The way to keep any guy interested, is to try and attract another man. Your guy will think you must be something worth while, if other men want you. “The best accessory a women can have, is a man on her arm.”
The cheater is always at fault, always. If he or she wasn’t happy with the partnership, he or she owed it to their partner to discuss issues. If the communication breaks down and he or she is still unhappy – dissolve the partnership then go look for greener pastures. Deceit is intolerable at any level. Ann should now know that Steve is a worthless POS and should divorce him and take him to the cleaners (and yes, I would give the same recommendation to a guy whose wife was cheating on him). Once the trust is gone, there is no relationship.
Templo S.U.D. over 5 years ago
horrifying, ain’t it?
Alice Lidell over 5 years ago
A woman can turn totally frigid, snap at her husband if he so much as touches her, nag him until he can’t stand the sight of her… but it’s the MAN’s fault if he spends time with a woman who makes him feel better.
flagmichael over 5 years ago
In a very broad sense almost everything is a competition. As long as we have a choice even the most horrible options can be compared. For the unlucky ones who found themselves at the top of the World Trade Center on 9/11, some had to choose between fire and the fall. For at least some the fall had more to offer. In this case, Steve has put himself at a serious disadvantage. More is the shame there should be so many more losers as a result.
JD'Huntsville'AL over 5 years ago
Well that answered my question from yesterday.
kfccanada over 5 years ago
Unfortunately, she’s just not thinking appropriately for a woman who’s been married for years and has children, too. She doesn’t seem to have a clue that a husband needs demonstative love and adult conversation and one on one time. What gives? SHe must have been exceedingly young when she got married. Or…….he never really got involved with the marriage….put with the kids….and did his own thing. They need counselling in a big way.
JoanHelen over 5 years ago
So many women get complacent when they have been married for a few years. It’s very important to remember that the husband is surrounded by attractive intelligent women at the office. I’ve always believed that it’s important to look attractive before you say goodbye to your husband in the morning. That will be the picture in his mind when he meets some pretty young things at the office. And make sure that the evening meal you offer him is yummy. Men are simple creatures really, keep them happy in bed and feed them well and they will be putty in your hands. :)
Army_Nurse over 5 years ago
Yes.
vaughnrl2003 Premium Member over 5 years ago
My Mom once told my sister, “You primped to get him. Primp to keep him.” The same goes for the guys. It takes a little work to make a marriage work. It’s worth it.
Prey over 5 years ago
The problem is that women grow up and men just grow old.
Wren Fahel over 5 years ago
One thing; I don’t have to worry about the “office romance” on either side in our marriage. My boss’ wife sat in on my job interview. One of the reasons I was hired was because she trusted me; she could tell that I was in a dedicated marriage, and that her husband wasn’t attracted to me physically. In the 10 years we’ve worked together he has never been improper with me, but he also trusts me with confidences and some personal stuff. I’m really like his “office wife”…without the physical stuff, and his wife knows and appreciates it. As for my husband, he works 3rd shift with a team he can barely tolerate, plus they have a strict fraternization rule.
Jabroniville Premium Member over 5 years ago
A good demonstration of the stuff going through a person’s head as they’re being cheated on- the self-doubt, the regrets, etc. Her note about “facing competition for my own husband” is sadly pretty much true of everyone.
Sadly, part of it’s probably true, which is why it stings- the “other woman” is more exciting, more attractive, etc. I don’t think it’s a mistake that Anne (who was gone from the strip by the time I started reading- it’s weird seeing her in all these old ones) is drawn the least-attractive of Elly and her friends, and is the one who got cheated on while Connie was always sought-after by men.
Some people are just born to stray, however. Especially powerful or rich men, who are more or less born competitive (which DEFINITELY extends to “scoring tail”), and usually have women freely offer themselves to them. Some guys are just “players”- I’ve had friends like that, who found women easy to get, then tried to settle down… it never works- they end up straying because it’s just so easy. Kind of an unfair thing for women… if they find a man who’s highly desirable (because he’s powerful and/or attractive)… OTHER WOMEN will desire him too, and he’s at a much greater risk of straying. The cold hard fact some have to accept is “marrying down”, because then the guy will be more grateful and less likely to drop them! I think there’s even been studies on that- marriages where the woman is more attractive than the man are more likely to succeed!
Lynn’s usual “over-sharing” is likely on display, as these were probably her own rationalizations about her first husband’s straying. And boy, does she like that “holding the hands down & open” pose a lot.
jless over 5 years ago
Lynn’s Notes:
Punch lines like this seemed to come to me through some outside resource. I had wondered this very thing…in both my marriages. What did I have to do to prove that I was worth keeping?
Diat60 over 5 years ago
Andy Williams singing “Wives and Lovers” https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qne9RA2lfg4. Bear in mind this came out in 1963! I don’t really have an opinion here -there’s sense on both sides.
Thechildinme over 5 years ago
So many comments on what a wife should do to keep the husband from straying. What about the husband’s role? Too often it’s from charm to chains. Who wants a grubby, grumpy slob expecting to be waited on hand, foot, and in between but who won’t offer to help around the house or with the kids or make plans for a special evening with her because, “I work hard all day, bring home the paycheck, and am too tired”?
debra4life over 5 years ago
What’s going on with the back of Annie’s hands in the last panel? Is that scarring? Tattooing?
albertonencioni over 5 years ago
It would be interesting, and certainly more constructive, if somebody actually STUDIED and not only commented the reasons (social, cultural, ideological) why failure rate of marriages is so high nowadays, and why in USA is much higher (around 50%, rising) than, say, in Italy (around 30%, also rising). I mean, if you consider money factors ONLY you should NEVER get married- good food and good sex are much cheaper when “bought at need” than sharing house and resources with a permanent companion. It is not about kids, because birth rates are precipitating both in all the “civilised” world, and are not related to whealth (inversely, if any). So? Ideas?
paranormal over 5 years ago
Maybe he needs flattened!
summerdog over 5 years ago
The way to keep any guy interested, is to try and attract another man. Your guy will think you must be something worth while, if other men want you. “The best accessory a women can have, is a man on her arm.”
pchemcat over 5 years ago
The cheater is always at fault, always. If he or she wasn’t happy with the partnership, he or she owed it to their partner to discuss issues. If the communication breaks down and he or she is still unhappy – dissolve the partnership then go look for greener pastures. Deceit is intolerable at any level. Ann should now know that Steve is a worthless POS and should divorce him and take him to the cleaners (and yes, I would give the same recommendation to a guy whose wife was cheating on him). Once the trust is gone, there is no relationship.