Still waters run deep. This 75-year-old ex-professor taught limnology too many times. When I failed to respond, you repeated top to bottom the information that the orchids in the kitchen were wilting and needed to be returned to the greenhouse to be resuscitated.  The bronze and white orchids had been brought to you as a love gift with Precious Sylvia heart, a Better Marriages token.  You had appreciated my gesture and wanted to save the orchids from the unusual low humidity we were experiencing.  You were concerned and wanted to honor the love the orchids represented.

We are opposites, you a joy filled extrovert and me, an often grumpy old introvert.  Most of the time, the difference brings joy, but, sometimes, it is a challenge.  This time, our oppositeness was a challenge. In my mind, I agreed with the information and request you presented. In real time, you thought that I had not heard you, in part because of my recent bout of deafness caused by my spring buildup of ear wax.

You repeated your message top to bottom.  This time, the delivery was a little louder.  Then, when I didn’t respond, you believed I had something deep going on in my head or had the brass to ignore your concern.  The tone with which you delivered the third top to bottom rendition of your message sent shivers down my spine.

I heard and agreed with you completely the first time you softly gave me the message of your concern. I had failed to give you any verbal feedback.  You would have been satisfied with a sub-verbal male grunt of acknowledgement.  At the moment you started the second repetition of your concern, I had something deep going on, but it had nothing to do with you or the orchids. I was experiencing a physical need brought about by my fourth cup of morning coffee. I was sitting in the comfortable but very low kitchen chair and was having an unstable elder moment getting my butt out of the chair to make the run to the bathroom.  When I heard the third beginning of your concern for the orchids, I knew I was in trouble.

You have my solemn promise that when you message me in the future, I will make some kind of response.  I love you, and I will acknowledge your worth.  The emphasis with which you delivered the third repetition put the fear of God in Eddie Bert.  I’m sorry. My still waters were not deep; they were stupid.

Love, Eddie