Sure, we're unique

Everybody in Northport, MI, says so. She overflows with energy and ideas. He has a remarkable vocabulary and can be funny. One way in which they are not unique is that there can be traumatic failures of communication. He may utterly miss the clues as to what is important

to her. Several years ago she greatly enjoyed a tea party (Real, not political) for which she and the wife of one of his childhood friends dressed in late 19th century styles and other gentility. This year she received another such invitation, for the very day before we were scheduled to leave the state. He saw the invitation more than once, but failed to(1) note the date and time and (2)recognize her high hopes to enjoy another such elegant event. A famous San Francisco columnist had a saying, often repeated, "Husbands are a sorry lot". He should have known, having experienced four separate ladies, before the cancer carried him off. I have only failed this one lady, but I know pain and frustration when I see it, and resolve to make renewed efforts not to overlook important clues, even those in which the key word seems to be missing.