“Oh my god, I never know how to answer that question. I mean, I never was any good at trying to figure stuff like that out — what difference does it make after all? I mean, who really cares, except for you of course. I didn’t mean to offend you, I hope you didn’t take it the wrong way. But really, does it really matter? I don’t see how it does. I really don’t.

I can pinpoint the day this all started. It was a chilly, Sunday afternoon in early December. A light rain was falling outside and Carol (my wife) and I had built a cozy fire in the fireplace. She was sitting on one of the couch, her legs curled up beneath her reading and sipping a glass of wine and I was sitting at the other watching the Giants begin to give away a 21 point lead to the Eagles.

Carol stood up and stretched, heading toward the kitchen.

"Get me a beer, hon'" I called after her.

"What's the magic word?," she asked with a twinkle.