One of Eric’s clients changed a major policy about handling office actions from the Patent and Trademark Office (he’s a patent attorney) that left him with very little to do until the issue is resolved, so he took yesterday and today off. The real difference was that he was not working at home. Usually when he “takes a day off,” he still puts in a 6-8 hour workday. This was truly unusual and a refreshing change. A few things I noticed:
1. He is a really great guy and we get along very well when we have the chance to just hang out.
2. We don’t hang out enough.
3. He was incredibly helpful getting the kids where they needed to be, running errands and being involved in the running of the house. He does not often get the chance to do this. It was awfully nice to have backup.
4. I handle a heck of a lot of stuff without him pretty dang well! The contrast–how much easier my day was with a partner–was astonishing.
5. We will have a lot of fun together when he retires. I have heard wives worry that their husband will drive them nuts, but I really don’t think that will happen to us. We are both pretty independent, but when things overlap, we always have plenty to talk about.
6. I was so happy to see him relaxed and without a million things on his plate. Those of you who only know him as a Bishop or Bishopric member, I wish you could know him better.
7. I am grateful for how hard he works. He is not a live-to-work kind of guy. He is definitely a work-to-live kind of guy, so it is not as if he is unconnected from home life, he is just really, really busy working as a lawyer and being the Bishop.
My Red Door Days 