Marriage and Other Leaps of Faith

by Guest Contributor Jeanie Greensfelder

To Toast Or Not To Toast

I'm making toast.
Do you want some? he asks.

I look up and say, Hmm…
I had a late lunch. I'm not sure…

My husband shakes his head.
He throws his hands up—
It's not a declaration of war,
it's just a piece of toast.
He stalks off.

He returns and says, I'm sorry.
I forgot how your brain works.
I ask a question and you answer:
Well…it's March, but it's Friday.
Is it raining? Let me think…

I look up and say,

Yes, I'd love a piece of toast.


Thoughts on Thoughts

One cold day, drying myself after a shower,
I notice my husband's towel hung over a heating vent.
If anything ever happens to him, I think,
I'll get the warm towel bar.

When I tell him my thought, he laughs and says,
I haven't pictured your demise since yesterday
when you ate the last chocolate.

"To Toast or Not to Toast" and "Thoughts on Thoughts" from Marriage and Other Leaps of Faith © 2015 Jeanie Greensfelder. Reprinted with permission.

Jeanie Greensfelder is the author of Marriage and Other Leaps of Faith. A psychologist and poet, she lives with her husband of 41 years in San Luis Obispo, California

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Essay Contest: True Stories About Marriage

I have received this announcement from Creative Nonfiction.

For an upcoming issue, Creative Nonfiction is seeking new essays about marriage.

Whether you've celebrated your 50th anniversary or 5th marriage; eloped to Vegas or fought for (or against) marriage equality in DC; just filed your divorce papers or proposed to your high school sweetheart, we’re looking for well-crafted essays that truthfully portray what married life is all about.

Send us your true stories of arranged marriages or shotgun weddings; walking down the aisle or running from the altar; mail-order brides or stay-at-home dads. We’re looking for a variety of perspectives ‑ from fiancés to florists; ministers to marriage counselors; divorce attorneys to wedding planners.

Essays must be vivid and dramatic; they should combine a strong and compelling narrative with an informative or reflective element and reach beyond a strictly personal experience for some universal or deeper meaning. We're looking for well-written prose, rich with detail and a distinctive voice; all essays must tell true stories and be factually accurate.

You can find complete guidelines at our website here.

 

Dreaming of a Better World

In a more perfect world...

• A day would have 26 hours instead of 24, and I’d finally get enough sleep.
• The clothes dryer would automatically fold the laundry.
• We could change our hair from straight to curly (or vice-versa) just by using the right shampoo.
• That same shampoo could be used to remove those old, embarrassing tattoos.
• We’d be able to use a technique like the Vulcan Mind Meld to truly understand our loved ones’ feelings.
• Everyone would choose compassion rather than contempt as their first response to people who are different from them.
• We would form all our opinions based on facts instead of prejudices.
• Honesty, loyalty, and generosity would be the character traits leading to success. Greed and ruthlessness would lead to failure.
• Ice cream would be a health food.