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ICE, ICE, BABY!!! NOT

We had ice and snow last week, and there was a bunch of it on our front porch and stairs. About four days in, I realized it was way overdue for me to clear the ice so no one would take an unintentional Olympic-level tumble while coming or going from the house.

Since all the stores were out of salt, I decided to get creative—or, as Marilyn might say, destructive. I grabbed a metal tool from the garage and went to work scraping the ice off the porch. I thought, “This is going to earn me some points with Marilyn.” Spoiler alert: It didn’t.

Turns out, the tool I used didn’t just scrape the ice—it also did a pretty fantastic job of scraping the concrete. Instead of applause, I got a phone call informing me of the “masterpiece” I left behind and a gentle suggestion that next time, it might be better to leave the ice alone. Apparently, a little slipping hazard is preferable to a concrete demolition job.

So now, one project has earned me another. My next adventure? Learning how to fix scraped-up concrete. The lesson here: If you’re going to mess up, at least mess up in a way that doesn’t become a daily visual reminder for your spouse. Every time Marilyn comes in or out, she’s greeted by my “handy” work. Let’s just say my DIY skills aren’t exactly winning any awards.

But hey, we still managed to have a good night last night. Marilyn didn’t hold it against me (too much), and while I didn’t particularly enjoy the reminders of my blunder, I figured if I can dish out grace, I should be able to take it too. After all, grace is what keeps blunders from turning into cold wars.

Here’s what I learned: If you’re going to mess something up, try not to do it on something as visible as the front porch. Also, if there’s something you’re holding against your spouse, let it go. Give grace, forgive, and move on. Trust me, your marriage and your sanity will thank you.

And finally, a bit of unsolicited advice: Don’t let any unwholesome talk come out of your mouth. Unless, of course, you’re making fun of your own mistakes—because nothing brings people together like a good laugh at your own expense.