Madness??

Rodney and I have been married for 17 years now and have known each other for almost 18. I believe that you can never really know someone completely, you may think you do, but it just is impossible to know every detail. Even as open a person as I know myself to be, there are still things that are only mine and I keep them for myself. As my marriage has evolved into the state it is now, which I consider quite lovely and genuine, I have had a lot of insight into the way my husband moves through this life. You know, it is that delicate dance of giving and taking, of learning the neuroses that make your mate tick and making the appropriate modifications so that there will be peace. 

The personality trait that is the most dominant in my darling husband is his perfectionism. This comes with all kinds of side notes here but for the most part, he does things slowly and correctly and takes much consideration of every detail. Now for a person like myself who is quite hurried, very messy and can juggle ten things at once...this can be extremely taxing on my nerves. I have learned to, not just accept, but love his precious condition of needing things to be just so, because he has completely accepted my crazy, unorganized, fly-by-the-seat-of-my-pants, impatient disposition. 

Well, tonight something happened that I don't think I'll ever be able to erase from my memory and I don't think I'll ever be able to see him in the same light again. I have watched this man do things that to me seem insane, like taking a half hour to wash a pan or carefully cleaning every toenail with his pocket knife, or spending what seems like an eternity rolling up an extension cord...but I've accepted it, bit my tongue and moved on. 

Ok, so this is what happened. We were both doing some "quick" tidying this evening around the house. Loading the dishwasher, sweeping etc...no big deal. I had borrowed my moms Rainbow vacuum cleaner which was sitting in the kitchen and he asked me how to use it so he could vacuum the living room. It was so sweet, I thought, and I helped him get it set up and went back to folding clothes. While I was folding clothes I looked over at my precious husband who was very precisely rolling the cord up on the vacuum, then he moved it about 15 feet, carefully unrolled it and plugged it in. Um, is this normal??? Does this strike anyone else as odd or is it just me?? My brain is still in shock and I don't think I can get over this. I don't know if I'll ever be able to see him in the same light again. I'm quite concerned about his mental state. If you read my last few blogs, perhaps we would all benefit from some profession help.