My mom did the same thing....SHe once told my dad she wanted to stay home (She was his secretary, they had a Bush marriage) for a few weeks and be a "groundhog". We had carpenters adding a room to the house and she wanted to be their "GO-for"!
Laura reminds me a lot of my mother....Basically very shy, but VERY capable......and a wonderful sense of humor.....Laugh easy and long.
LOL! My mom was very outgoing, the talk to anybody type, and I and most of my brothers and sisters are like that.
Dad, otoh, was funny, but in a dry humor sort of way. It took you awhile to realize that he'd just said something funny.
Another story I told on the thread was that mom and dad were in line at a dept. store beind someone, and the clerk asked the person if they wanted to pay cash or credit. The person said they didn't believe in credit cards, and mom tapped them on the shoulder and said in her best awe-filled voice - "I do, I've SEEN 'em!" Dad wanted to melt into the floor.
BTW, a "Bush marriage" is a very nice way to describe your mom and dad!