We were planning our future, Harold and I,
As we sat outside gazing at the hills.
“I want four children” I said.
Harold replied “three”.
I countered, “They should be raised Episcopalian,”
and Harold said “Lutheran”
“I believe in private schools” I said,
and Harold replied “public”
“I think vegetarianism is the healthiest” I said,
and Harold said “what bunk! no one ever died from
fast food hamburgers!”
“I think babies should be breast fed,” I said
and Harold replied “formula is a lot faster and it won’t
keep you from going back to work right away”
I said “I believe children should be exposed at an early
age to literature” to which Harold replied, “what nonsense!
there’s always TV!”
I think a broad range of music appreciation is vital
to a young child’s upbringing” I said,
and Harold replied “nothing like good old rock and roll,
or country and western, or even heavy metal–“
and I wondered
What had I gotten myself into? and why didn’t we have
this discussion before we got married?
Sandra Lee Smith,
April 12, 2009/updated June 24, 2018
