A Note from Jim

Dear Friends:

It is important for men to remember that as women grow older it becomes
harder for them to maintain the same quality of housekeeping as they did
when they were younger. When men notice this, they should try not to yell.
Let me relate how I handle the situation.

When I got laid off from my consulting job and took "early retirement" in
January, it became necessary for Nancy to get a full-time job, both for
extra income and for health benefits that we need. She was a trained medical
transcriptionist when we met twenty-eight ears ago and was fortunate to land
a job at a local transcription house. It was shortly after she started
working at this job that I noticed that she was beginning to show her age.

I usually get home from fishing or hunting about the same time she gets home
from work. Although she knows how hungry I am, she almost always says that
she has to rest for half an hour or so before she starts supper. I try not
to yell at her when this happens. Instead, I tell her to take her time.

I understand that she is not as young as she used to be. I just tell her to
wake me when she finally does get supper on the table.

She used to wash and dry the dishes as soon as we finished eating. It is now
not unusual for them to sit on the table for several hours after supper. I
do what I can by reminding her several times each evening that they aren't
cleaning themselves. I know she appreciates this, as it does seem to help
her get them done before she goes to bed.

Our washer and dryer are in the basement. When she was younger, Nancy used
to be able to go up and down the stairs all day and not get tired. Now that
she is older she seems to get tired so much more quickly. Sometimes she says
she just can't make another trip down those steps. I don't make a big issue
of this. As long as she finishes up the laundry the next evening, I am
willing to overlook it.

Not only that, but unless I need something ironed to wear to the Monday
lodge meeting or to Wednesday's or Saturday's poker club or to Tuesday's or
Thursday's bowling or something like that, I will tell her to wait until the
next evening to do the ironing. This gives her a little more time to do some
of those odds and ends things like shampooing the dog, vacuuming or dusting.

Also, if I have had a really good day fishing, this allows her to gut and
scale the fish at a more leisurely pace.

Nancy is starting to complain a little occasionally. Not often, mind you,
but just enough for me to notice. For example, she will say that it is
difficult for her to find time to pay the monthly bills during her lunch
hour. In spite of her complaining, I continue to try to offer encouragement.
I tell her to stretch it out over two or even three days. That way she won't
have to rush so much. I also remind her that missing lunch completely now
and then wouldn't hurt her any, if you know what I mean.

When doing simple jobs she seems to think she needs more rest periods than
she used to have to take. A couple of weeks ago she said she had to take a
break when she was only half finished mowing the yard. I overlook comments
like these because I realize it's just age talking. In fact, I try not to
embarrass her when she needs these little extra rest breaks. I tell her to
fix herself a nice, big, cold glass of freshly squeezed lemonade and just
sit for a while. I tell her that as long as she is making one for herself,
she may as well make one for me and take her break by the hammock so she can
talk with me until I fall asleep.

I could go on and on, but I think you know where I'm coming from. I know
that I probably look like a saint in the way I support Nancy on a daily
basis.  I'm not saying that the ability to show this much consideration is
easy. Many men will find it difficult. Some will find it impossible. No one
knows better than I do how frustrating women can become as they get older.

My purpose in writing this is simply to suggest that you make the effort. I
realize that achieving the exemplary level of showing consideration I have
attained is out of reach for the average man.

However, guys, even if you just yell at your wife a little less often
because of this article, I will consider that writing it was worthwhile.

Regards, Jim
********************




PS: Jim's funeral was on Saturday, June 15th.

Nancy was acquitted Monday, June 17th.


----- Original Message -----
From: "John Klos" <john@sixgirls.org>
To: "Takeshi Shibagaki" <sibagaki@lsi.melco.co.jp>
Cc: <port-mac68k@netbsd.org>; <port-m68k@netbsd.org>
Sent: Wednesday, March 05, 2003 1:20 AM
Subject: m68k soft float (was illegal instruction)


> > John> Soon I hope to try to overhaul some of the FPU code to integrate
real
> > John> -soft-float support, compliments of Bruce O'Neel, so we can
finally have a
> > John> good, free Unix on LC040 machines (yay!)
> >
> > I also implemented with myself method like Bruce-san's method since
> > old times.
> > # PB190CS is working now (X too) with myself soft-float libraries.
> >
> > But I think this method is not a mainstream. built-in soft-float
> > emulation is the mainstream in NetBSD's principle.
> >
> > A big issue is getting agree which allow changing userland
> > library(libc, libm, and so on) in any other ports using
> > m68k(ex. amiga, atari, x68k, etc). Maybe I guess not allow.
> >
> > If only mac68k port uses soft-float libraries, it is a problem of
> > compatibility between other m68k ports.
> >
> > What do you think about?
>
> Well, Bruce's patches are for m68k libc, so the platform wouldn't matter.
> I want to get the patches into -current, get everything working well and
> tested, then commit them to -current.
>
> I'd also like to get them working under -release and make binary snapshots
> of 1.6.1 for LC040 Amigas and Macs. If someone has access to any other
> m68k machines which can use it, I'd make sets for them, too.
>
> To that end, I've cleaned up a number of issues with the patches on the
> -release branch even though they will never get committed there, but it's
> all for the better no matter.
>
> Hopefully I'll have time for this soon, as 1.6.1 should be ready ADN.
>
> John Klos
> Sixgirls Computing Labs
>