Low Maintenance In A High Maintenance World...

"When Harry Met Sally" is one of my all-time favorite movies. I saw this movie in the theater a hundred years ago when I was set up on a blind date with a friend's brother. Date = horrible. Movie = wonderful. At least he had good taste in movies...

While the entire movie is over-the-top awesome, there have been two truths derived thereof that have stayed with me over the past twenty-some years.

The first came from Carrie Fisher's character and is hands-down my favorite movie quote of all time. "We all like to think we have good taste and a sense of humor but we can't all possibly have good taste and a sense of humor." Not since the 23rd Psalm have truer words been spoken.

The second truth came from the conversation between Harry and Sally as they simultaneously watched "Casablanca" and talked over the phone. Keep in mind - this was before the time of texting, instant messaging, and Facebook. People actually conversed with one another. On a telephone. I nearly developed cauliflower ear for all the time I spent in conversations over the phone. (I wouldn't google that if I were you...it is actually quite gross.)

After witnessing Ingrid Bergman say good-bye to Humphrey Bogart and depart on the plane, Harry tells Sally Ingrid is a definite LM.

"LM?" asks Sally.

"Low maintenance," replies Harry.

"Am I low maintenance?" inquires Sally.

"You're the worse kind. You're high maintenance but  you think you're low maintenance," explains Harry.

"I don't see that at all," retorts Sally.

I'm with Sally.

I honestly believe I am definitely low maintenance. Never have I been the kind of wife who tells her husband he can or can't go somewhere or do whatever he wants to do. Expensive jewelry has never held any mystique for me; in reality I am such a spaz I would be afraid of losing it. I don't ask anyone to do anything I wouldn't do myself, and I always try to give everyone the benefit of the doubt. I still pack my teenage children's lunches and try to always have a home-cooked meal with vegetables for dinner.

That being said, I had a very dear friend today ask me if I really believed I am low maintenance. I mean, really? Yes, I expect everyone to do the best they can. And yes, I don't suffer fools lightly. But c'mon, don't we all? How many of us can tolerate those who continue to leave egg on the fork just so we stop asking them to do the dishes? I don't think that makes me high maintenance.

I just like things the way I like them. As soon as everyone else gets on-board with that, the more LM I'll be.