The Eggshell Incident

Alice was a “clean at the end” cook (usually with me doing the honors) whereas I am the “clean as you go” type.

This is a habit I picked up as a response to “The Eggshell Incident.”

When I was in college I lived with a couple of roommates, and we shared cooking duties, except I was less than responsible. One time one of them took me aside and pointed out a couple of cracked eggshells lying on the kitchen counter.

“Do you see those eggshells? Those are your eggshells. You left them there about a week ago. We’ve been leaving them alone, wondering when you would think it was time to throw away your eggshells, but it’s obvious that isn’t in the cards. Do you see what I’m getting at?”

I did.

I was so irresponsible and immature in that and so many other ways, that these roommates actually had a talk with Alice after we were engaged, and—I kid you not—attempted to talk her out of marrying me.

And I’ll be honest… that was actually good advice.

Fortunately she did not listen, and married me anyway. And I’m glad. She was the best thing that ever happened to me.

And I’ve tried, albeit imperfectly, to reform myself.