Marriage Memoir by Ron and Crystal Meinstein

            Being a good father requires discipline, perseverance, and the ability to sometimes say no. Truly there is almost nothing I enjoy more than doing something which, makes my daughters happy.

            This year, however, was a case of ‘close, but no cigar’. We were finally going to take a true family vacation. It was to be all three daughters, along with their families: two son-in-laws, and seven grandchildren. We had rented a beautiful, roomy house near a beach in Delaware. There would be plenty to do, with a nice boardwalk, boats, and wilderness to explore.

            However, was I ever wrong about this stupid virus. I was determined to go, no matter what. Then, one day before our final payment would be fully vested, Crystal came to me and told me we couldn’t go. I was devastated. Usually, I get the final say when we don’t agree, but after some time of prayer and reflection, I knew she was right. The stories were changing every day. We might be quarantined from the moment we arrived, or everything might be closed….Not part of the plan. It was too much money to take that chance.

            Truly there is almost nothing I hate more than disappointing my daughters. I couldn’t do it. So, I had our youngest, Lisa, e-mail the other two families. They had already secured the time off. I was pleased to hear that, after the initial shock wore off, within days, they had alternative plans. It is really great when you realize that you raised, and I along with wifey, take partial credit for this, survivors.

            God told me a long time ago that, I needed to listen to my wife. It’s a good thing I did this time. Not only would there be restrictions due to Covid 19; but tropical storm Isaias struck Delaware in the middle of the week. Chances are, we would have dealt with heavy winds, copious rain, flooding, and power outages. While I love my kids and grandkids, being stuck in a house, in the dark, with them, for a period of time, is not my idea of vacation.

            A younger, more fool hearty Ron, might have overruled his wife. Well, someday, God willing, we will do a family vacation. And someday, God willing, we will have more fun activities with our children and grandchildren. But in the meantime, I will just, along with the rest of the civilized world, have to learn to be patient, and SMART. This too shall pass.

The moral of the story is, first listen to God, then listen to your spouse.