Aug. 14, 2004 - 07:16 MDT

THE WONDERING JEW

Fable Mabel ?

Sometimes I manage to turn up an acorn like a blind sow does. Sometimes something frivolous sets me off, or -- whatever.

My good friend Bex came out yesterday with something that is funny, I read it and laughed -- and then thought a little.

<><><>What Do Women Really Want ?<><><>

Young King Arthur was ambushed and imprisoned by the monarch of a neighboring kingdom. The monarch could have killed him, but was moved by Arthur's youth and ideals. So, the monarch offered him his freedom, as long as he could answer a very difficult question - Arthur would have a year to figure out the answer and if, after a year, he still had no answer, he would be put to death. The question: What do women really want? Such a question would perplex even the most knowledgeable man, and to young Arthur, it seemed an impossible query. But, since it was better than death, he accepted the monarch's proposition to have an answer by year's end. He returned to his kingdom and began to poll everyone - the princess, the priests, the wise men and even the court jester. He spoke with everyone, but no one could give him a satisfactory answer. Many people advised him to consult the old witch, for only she would have the answer. But the price would be high; as the witch was famous throughout the kingdom for the exhorbitant prices she charged. The last day of the year arrived and Arthur had no choice but to talk to the witch. She agreed to answer the question, but he would have to agree to her price first. The old witch wanted to marry Sir Lancelot, the most noble of the Knights of the Round Table and Arthur's closest friend! Young Arthur was horrified. She was hunchbacked and hideous, had only one tooth, smelled like sewage, made obscene noises, etc. He had never encountered such a repugnant creature in all his life. He refused to force his friend to marry her and endure such a terrible burden, but Lancelot, learning of the proposal, spoke with Arthur. He said nothing was too big of a sacrifice compared to Arthur's life and the preservation of the Round Table. Hence, a wedding was proclaimed and the witch answered Arthur's question thus: (((What a woman really wants, she answered, is to be in charge of her own life.))) Everyone in the kingdom instantly knew that the witch had uttered a great truth, and that Arthur's life would be spared. And so it was. The neighboring monarch granted Arthur his freedom, and Lancelot and the witch had a wonderful wedding. The honeymoon hour approached and Lancelot, steeling himself for a horrific experience, entered the bedroom. But, what a sight awaited him. The most beautiful woman he had ever seen lay before him on the bed. The astounded Lancelot asked what had happened. The beauty replied that, since he had been so kind to her when she appeared as a witch, she would henceforth, be her horrible deformed self only half the time, and would be the beautiful maiden the other half of the time. Which would he prefer? Beautiful during the day - or during the night? Lancelot pondered the predicament. During the day, a beautiful woman to show off to his friends, but at night, in the privacy of his castle, an old witch? Or, would he prefer having a hideous witch during the day, but by night, a beautiful woman for him to enjoy wondrous, intimate moments? What would YOU do? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Noble Lancelot, knowing the answer the witch gave Arthur to his question, said that he would allow HER to make the choice herself. Upon hearing this, she announced that she would be beautiful all the time because he had respected her enough to let her be in charge of her own life. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Now....what is the moral to this story? ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ The moral is: If you don't let a woman have her own way Things are going to get ugly. ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

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The punch line made the comedy. But to my mind there is some underlying truth, at least I think so. There is I think a gap between men's understanding of women, and women's understanding of men. Each sex I think has its own criteria for a happy life, comfort and adventure. For instance, if I need something I check it out for availability and then price -- then go get it and come home. Simple man sort of thing. At times we stop somewhere and Heather tells me, "I won't be long, I just want to look for XXXXXXX and will be right back. Yeah riiiight !

Differences between hunters and gatherers ? Maybe. But Bex's story gives me an idea that everyone, man, woman or child should be laid back enough to let another have their own way -- as long as it is not harmful to another. Compassionate enough to be happy with the other's decision of what to do or think.

Do I have to understand the inner workings of a woman's mind ? Not to my way of thinking I don't. Works pretty good for Heather and I, seems like the older we get, the more tolerant and helpful we are to each other.

I don't think that either sex has to have deep understanding of the other to love and cherish. Then too I think that one can understand what the other wants and often guess the reason and go along with it, but can a man plumb the depths of a woman's psyche ? Perhaps some can. Vice-versa can a woman do likewise with the opposite sex ? Could be that a woman can do better than a man can, but some of it could be compassion for a dolt of a man.

About the time I begin to get a good understanding of things it'll be time for me to push up the daisies, no ?

So could it be that there is more truth than fun to a Fable Mabel ? . . . . . . . . . .

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