[rhett october]

This really spoke to my marriage. We've taken a couple of short trips together recently and my wife started crying during the drive. When I asked her what was wrong, she said, "We have nothing to talk about." It really hurt her that we didn't talk. I've often wondered how much Oprah and pop-psychology made her feel like there was a problem...when maybe it wasn't that big of a deal or even....normal. I read this and emailed it to her. It's nice to have a professional say it's okay if we don't have enlightening, non-stop conversation all the time as a married couple. It seemed to help both of us not feel this pressure to jabber all the time to "save our marriage."

It might sound trivial, but this issue was really making my wife feel like we were broken or something.

[humblegunner]

Maybe she would like for you to quit blogging and get a real job.

[Library Lady]

Sometimes my husband and I can travel an hour at a time and never say anything. Other times we talk like magpies. It just means we are comfortable in each other’s presence anyway.

[Mr. Douglas]

Does yelling count?*

*To be clear, this is a reference to my first marriage of 20+ years. My second, of 18+ is amazing. We talk with each other every day almost like we just met. When we drive, we mostly talk about driving. All the way from central KY to Chicago to see the grandkids.

We have an understanding, though. We both know that just having the other person in the house with you changes everything for the positive, even if we never say a word.

[ObozoMustGo2012]

It must be a woman thing.

My girlfriend gets like that. The two of us can be sitting on the couch watching TV or a movie. Later she’ll get moody and grumpy.

After many times of being answered “nothing” when I asked what was wrong, she finally and begrudgingly told me she was hurt because I wasn’t talking to her.

Uhhh.... we were watching a movie. That SHE turned on!!!

Guys, if you want to have some sort of individual control of your own life, DO NOT GET MARRIED!!!!!!!

[PGR88]

“My wife won’t talk to me.”

Translation: my wife and I have a terrible sex life.

[Geronimo]

You should start losing your hearing like I have and then you will ask your wife at least a hundred times a day, “What did you say sweetheart?” or if you’re both watching tv, “What did he/she say?..

I’ve never had to talk to my so much ever, it’s not that bad...

[AppyPappy]

I hate to interrupt her.

[Bratch]

Could be a curse or a blessing.

[Meet the New Boss]

Men and women are different. When women are lost in thought, they’re probably thinking about relationships.

When men are thinking about something, perhaps women think we’re dissecting some relationship or something, but typically we’re just thinking about how to plan for or accomplish some task on our mental to-do list.

[Bigg Red]

I know nothing of your particular situation, but my woman’s intuition tells me what your wife really means is that there is something related to your marital relationship that she wants to talk to you about, but she does not know how to approach it.

We women just take a very circuitous route sometimes. It’s frustrating to men, I know, but that is how we are.

[PROCON]

Perhaps she just needs training?

[Rockingham]

A friend of mine went through that sort of thing and ended up in counseling with his wife. She saw the first counseling session as her chance to talk, so she began unloading with criticisms and complaints from when they met in college. After several minutes of this and not being allowed to say anything back as the rules of the counselor specified, my friend got up and announced that he was going outside for a smoke and to let him know when his wife got up to anything in the last year or two. That of course caused an uproar and, after another session or two, the counselor recommended that they get divorced, which they did.

[ctdonath2]

Sometimes there’s just nothing to say.

Sometimes “anything you say can and will be used against you.”

Which it is matters.

[Bloody Sam Roberts]

Hey...it happens. I’ve been married for 30 years and have had to explain to my wife on occasion that most people are uncomfortable with silence. I am not. I don’t eschew conversation, but I’ve been chided because occasionally I don’t join in. Well...50% of conversation is listening and if I have nothing to add or offer, I listen more.

[right way right]

I finish my sammich and throw the napkin at her and she raspberries me. Does that count?

[ctdonath2]

Sometimes there’s just nothing to say.

Sometimes “anything you say can and will be used against you.”

Which it is matters.

[Hatteras]

[shibumi]

I suggest that (if you haven’t already) you start drinking heavily.

Learn the joys of a good cigar.
No drug store panatellas.
Really good stuff, like Partagas Humitubes and Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva Rothschild.

And buy a motorcycle.
Nothing less than 1,000cc. Solo Seat.

Shoot pool. Get in a fight now and then.
Stop trying to figure out women.
You be the mystery.
Live life on *your* terms.

And lose the onesie PJs and cocoa.

You’re welcome.

[BlueLancer]

After dinner, my wife and I sit back, open our Kindles, and proceed to spend the next two to three hours reading. Occasionally, she or I will laugh about something in the book that we're reading and so we'll talk about that. But, other than that, we're perfectly content with the silence.

We both have always loved to read and it's great that we found each other so that we can enjoy it together ...

[Political Junkie Too]

-PJ