A compliment for the wife

[Jimbo]

Today at the restaurant where Sally is a hostess - an upscale place where she is often dressed to kill - an upscale man comes in stag and follows up a short conversation with a compliment, "By the way, you are beautiful."  I'm not surprised because this morning as I left for work I noticed how lovely she looked and told her "My Dear, you look like a million bucks."  He asked her where she was from, how she got here, things like that.  This sort of thing has happened several times since she arrived in the US three years ago.  Sometimes men ask me where I found my wife without knowing her Asian nationality.

I'm not jealous nor am I bragging.  But it strikes me, poignantly, that not long ago I was just like them; unaware of the availability of Asian ladies and ignorant of their culture.  Many men who have never been in the service fall into this category.  These are the guys who ask her "Are you Korean?"  "Are you from Thailand?"  I can't help but feel a bit sorry for them.

On days like this I find myself particularly grateful to have found this lady of good character, cheerful disposition, graceful determination and simple beauty.  I'm happy to have taken up the adventure, accepting the risk and enduring the long process.  I'm lucky, I know.  I stumbled into this by surfing the net one lonely Christmas vacation.  And I didn't get deceived.  But whatever part of it cannot be attributed to luck must be attributed to a blessing, I believe.

I hope all of you seekers out there find yourselves as lucky and as blessed as I have been.

Jim --feeling the gratitude tonight and grateful for it.

[The Walker]

... in response to A compliment for the wife, posted by Jimbo on Jul 8, 2002

Yes, I have often had the same thing happen to us. Here they tend to think Vicky is Carribean or deep south Latina (Brazilian is the most often mistake, followed by Peruvian). There are few Asians in the little town and the Filipinos are tucked in pretty tightly in the city so far.

Vicky is a lot more daring dresser when I am with her than when I am not. Her choice. As I mentioned one time, when we were riding the Hawg, she wore jeans with black chaps, red lowcut blouse and black leather jacket with scarlet red heels. I admit it sounds wierd but it was striking given her figure. Vicky prefers heels of some sort, even wide Cuban heels. She only wears flats or athletic shoes at home. If we go dancing it is a clingy dress and heels, cut up the side for freedom of movement. Around the town or visiting neighbors it is a tight blouse and tight jeans, with heels of some sort.

When she is on her own or out with Mrs. Mayor she dresses more like a Stepford Wife. Very attracive but conservative. Of course there is no hiding her absolutely beautiful and very long, black hair. I have noticed she only wears it straight when we are together. When she is out without me she wears it up some way or another.

And people seem to be amazed that she is intelligent and articulate, as most Filipinas are. I do not know why this is.

We ARE lucky, we who have married Asian wives.

Don

[Stephen]

... in response to A compliment for the wife, posted by Jimbo on Jul 8, 2002

I know we are one of a kind because we came from Butuan City...OPPS...I mean all Filipinas are one of a kind. Give my regards to Sally..

S&T

[Jimbo]

... in response to very nice post about Sally...tess, posted by Stephen on Jul 9, 2002

Just Dave cranking out his "Butuan City Girls" masterpiece )))

Jim

[Dave H]

... in response to What's that sound?, posted by Jimbo on Jul 9, 2002

Well Manila girls are hip
I really dig those styles they wear
And the Visayan girls with the way they talk
They knock me out when I'm down there
The Luzon farmer's daughters really make you feel alright
And the Angeles girls with the way they kiss
They keep their boyfriends warm at night

I wish they all could be Butuan City
I wish they all could be Butuan City
I wish they all could be Butuan City girls.

Mindanao has the sunshine
And the girls all get so tanned
I dig a "Filipina swimsuit" on Camiguin island
Dolls by a palm tree in the sand

I been all around these 7,000 isles
And I seen all kinds of girls
Yeah, but I couldn't wait to get back to the city
Back to the cutest girls in the world

I wish they all could be Butuan City
I wish they all could be Butuan City
I wish they all could be Butuan City girls.... :oD

Dave H.

 

[joemc]

... in response to A compliment for the wife, posted by Jimbo on Jul 8, 2002

Hi Jimbo,
      I am sorry that we did not get together.
      My family kept me busy back in Boston.
      I had to deal with eight other brothers
      and sisters.I stay at five different homes back
     there. I am sorry for the confusion and I hope
     that I did not give you any grief.My main concern
     was the well being of your Sally. By talking with
     you over the phone you seem very happy and upbeat
    in your marriage. And I think Sally is also lucky
    to have you. I was wondering did you make it to
    Kevin's picnic on Saturday.  I bet it was a good one.
    Do you mind if I e-mail you some pictures.

                                 thanks again,
                                                 joemc

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: A compliment for the wife, posted by joemc on Jul 9, 2002

Yes we made it.  Please check email.

Jim

[Jeff S]

... in response to A compliment for the wife, posted by Jimbo on Jul 8, 2002

It's an adventure allright isn't it. Every group seems to want to claim my wife. When we're in a Viet Namese resturaunt, they speak to her in Viet Namese, in an Indian place, everyone is sure she's Indian, in Filipino places, they speak to her in Tagolag, even in Mexico, everyone speaks to her in Spanish - and are usually surprised when the big ugly blue eyed gringo answers in Spanish, and she shrugs her shoulders. She felt insulted at first, but after I talked to her how people would only claim her if they thought she was beautiful, she now sees these as a compliment.  I too, am fascinated at the chain of events that led up to our marriage - luck? blessing? I don't know, but ain't it grand.

-- Jeff S.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: A compliment for the wife, posted by Jeff S on Jul 9, 2002

Next time she feels insulted I'll tell her that too!

Jim

[Jeff S]

... in response to Good idea Jeff, posted by Jimbo on Jul 9, 2002

If she were ugly, the Mexicans would insist she was Guatemalan, the Indians insist she was Pakistani, the Viet Namese insist she was Thai, etc. I told her, think about it, if you saw a really ugly Asian wouldn't you say she must be Chinese or Korean, but never Japanese? LOL That worked!

-- Jeff S.

[Matthew]

... in response to A compliment for the wife, posted by Jimbo on Jul 8, 2002

Jimbo,

I like your attitude of gratitude.That was a nice post.
I feel very grateful myself.I have never been particularly
lucky so I feel for me it's more of a blessing.

tito Matt

[Jimbo]

... in response to Re: A compliment for the wife, posted by Matthew on Jul 9, 2002

It was straight from the heart.  Jeff once said that the first two years of marriage were the most difficult.  For me that has been true - those two years had a fair amount of volatile moments for us.  But we were learning and figuring each other out all along the way.  To me, that's what they mean when they say you have to 'work' at marriage.

Now in this third year I notice that things are more peaceful, everything seems easier, because we know how to deal with each other so much better.  Part of it is that I know how she reacts to certain situations and why she reacts that way, and this allows me to predict how a new situation will affect her and to make adjustments accordingly.  Another part of it is that in getting to know her, I know myself better.  And the real bonus is that somehow, in going through all this, she has made me a better person.

Jim

[Dave H]

... in response to A compliment for the wife, posted by Jimbo on Jul 8, 2002

Hey Jim,

You're a lucky man...me too! I don't think that either one of us deserves our wives. But what the heck...we weren't stupid enough to let that stop us once we stumbled into them. :oD When people ask me about Marife, I tell them that she is Swedish. They give me the strangest looks. ;o))) Did you ever hook up with Joe McFester?

Dave H.

[Jimbo]

... in response to Smooth..., posted by Dave H on Jul 9, 2002

Hi Dave,

Old Joe went AWOL at the last second.  We still went to the picnic in RI.  Kevin's parents had a pot of baked beans - no surprise there - made with bacon and, I think, molasses.  Hmmm, yum!  So I think we could consider Kevin to be a chip off the old block ))))

Jim

[Jeff S]

... in response to Re: Joe, posted by Jimbo on Jul 9, 2002

... That scene from "Blazing Saddles" that went something like this: "More beans, Mr. Taggert?"

"No, I think you boys have had enough!"

-- Jeff S.