My dog continued to slide downhill and I continued to worry. The Blackberry glared at me and laughed at me.
One hot summer day my husband and I went to the store. He hates grocery shopping but will do it. He offered to go get some items on one aisle while I went to another. Agreed. I got the items I was looking for and went looking for him. I found him on the freezer aisle. His back was to me. He was bent over the Blackberry. Even here it controlled him.
I walked up behind him. Quietly. On purpose. I looked over his shoulder...and he reacted like a kid who is caught shoplifting. He instantly whipped the Blackberry behind his back and turned to me. Oh, there you are! Did you get what you were looking for? He started to push the basket away. So what's up with the Blackberry I asked? Huh, he said. Nothing.
Why did you hide it? I didn't hide it, he shrilled. You surprised me. I was answering an important email and you surprised me. On Saturday, I asked? Well yeah, work doesn't stop on base just because it's Saturday. I couldn't bring myself to argue with him in the store. I knew I was in deep trouble. I knew this was serious stuff. I quit speaking to him. He quit speaking to me.
He knew and I knew. What could I do about it? He still held my hand. He still told me he loved me. He was my adored husband.
