Meat and Potatoes

One night after our discussion on what a proper meal should consist of. He exclaimed that if I made meat and potatoes for dinner for the duration of our marriage, he would be happy. It did not matter how the potatoes were fixed or what type of meat. So I took that as an outline of what make.

One day I called him at work to see how things were going. I then told him that for dinner that night we were having steak and mashed potatoes for dinner. This was before I started buying boxed potatoes so the mashed potatoes were fresh and home made with butter and milk. He sounded pleased and then told me he'd meet me at home at 430. At 4 o'clock I set the table and added a small centerpiece. I had made red Kool aid the way he liked it, with the sugar undissolved at the bottom.

430 came and went and he wasn't home, not a big deal. He walked in the door at 5 o'clock with a bag of Wienerschnitzel. This did not make me happy in the least. he walked in, saw the table, and then reality struck him. "We could have the meat and potatoes for tomorrow since I forgot and bought dinner instead." So this was his excuse.

"I will be having dinner if you would like to join me", I exclaimed.
"I forgot you made dinner,  I'm sorry", he answered.
"No you did not forget, you just didn't listen, I listen to you because look what we are having for dinner, meat and potatoes. you just ignored whatever came out of my mouth"
"I did listen, I just forgot. I was trying to make things easier for you by bringing dinner. I'm sorry"
" Whatever"

I had made such a nice dinner and now he had ruined it with his fast-food. I went to my room and cried. I wondered how it was that he was so stupid to have forgotten something that was told to him hours ago. Did he listen to me when I spoke, did my actions matter to him, did my feelings matter, Did I matter. Somehow I equated this incident to our relationship. He not remembering about dinner was equivalent to the way he felt about me, he did not remember me. I felt like the marriage was hopeless and doomed.

  He asked me to come out of my room. I walked out and he had finished serving the food on the table and was sitting down ready to eat. I sat down and asked "where's the bag of food?"
"In the fridge" he answered.
"I'm still not happy."
"I know."
We sat and ate dinner in silence.