my wonderful life

She is with me in a painting class,I don't even know her name but for some reason she talks to me.about her life,her unhappiness,her in laws.She is young and been married for six months and needs to talk so I let her.I am half listening,as the drawing needs all my attention.She has asked me little details about my life and finds it interesting but I am a private person so the details I give her are few and far between,but the psychologist in me comes out so I give her bits that will keep her faith in life and its difficulties.

She asked if I could drop her on the way home, so we get into the car.She thought I was making a career of drawing and was surprised when I told her it was a hobby,something I wanted to do for the fun of it.Suddenly out of the blue she says "you have a wonderful life".No one ever said that to me.Its the kind of thing I think of other lives but it made me think.Was my life wonderful.Actually all said and done it is.

Freedom,that's something that's important to me and I have never had to compromise on that,freedom to say what I want to say,to act and do what I want to do.Marriage hasn't changed that.I hear a lot of women tell me that "my husband lets me do this or that".I don't believe that's freedom.You do what you want and no ones gives you permission,that's not freedom.

I don't have to do all the jobs at home,work is divided.I have handled my in laws on my own out of choice.I would hate it if a son or daughter took the side of their wives or husbands so I handle my mom in law my way and the husband stays out of it.Its come to a stage when I know more family gossip than he does.This with all the difference of culture,religion et al.

I read all the time and he watches TV all the time but we communicate,don't ask me when but we do.He nags me about a messy house and ends up cleaning it himself.Hes a better housekeeper and I am a damn good cook.

At work I am given a free hand or in funny situations I manage the boss.The heavy mascara and a well drawn pout didn't work in my case,so my smooth talk gets it all going.

I managed the parents too.In the days when I wanted to party,I could walk in with the milk man and get away with it.My mother brushed it away with "oh we have to change with the times"

I thought of all this and realised how important all of these little things were,what would I do if it were all taken away,would I be unhappy like that girl in my class.Would I look at someones life and wish it were mine.I don't know,I cant understand what she must be going through.I am an outsider who knows nothing of her life but she talks all the time,she needs to.Its safe.Its her way of getting it out of her system and I offer no advice.I am a sounding board and very happy to be of help.But she has made me thankful for my wonderful life.