Agreeing to Disagree

Even after thirty two years of marriage, Susan and I still do not agree on everything.

I love spicy food. In fact, I usually have to add additional "heat" to my meals to provide me with a satisfactory level of pain. Susan must insure her food does not even have the smallest amount of pepper or spice. Even the slightest dash of pepper gives her tremendous problems.

I remember people and conversations. Susan remembers phone numbers. Don't laugh. Not long ago Susan saved the day when our credit card company grew tired of asking my mother’s maiden name and wanted us to verify what our phone number had been when we lived in Louisiana... over 14 years ago! Susan gave it to them without hesitation.

To our knowledge, we have only voted for the same presidential candidate twice. Some of you might think that we have simply canceled out each other’s votes over the years. We prefer to think of it as covering all the bases.

As we look back over 32 years of marriage, we realize that we also have a significant difference of opinion about what our best car has been during our life together.

Susan remembers the 1968 Land Rover we had in Bolivia as her favorite. She spent a lot of time driving it on very adventurous roads. I seem to remember it was slow.

I remember the 1967 Pontiac LeMans (with a 350 short block engine!) we had when we married as our best. I spent a lot of time driving it at adventurous speeds. Susan thinks it was a "guy car."

I also treasure the memories of the Russian car we had when we lived in La Paz. However, I must admit that part of the attraction was “yanking the chain” of some U.S. missionaries who thought I was being unpatriotic for enjoying it so much. The red interior was proof positive of my strange politics for some of my co-workers.

Now, Susan and I are once again at the point of having to make a car decision. Our 12 year-old Suzuki is entering into its dotage. How will we come to agreement on what to buy?

Fortunately, our differences of opinion are ameliorated by the passage of time and social change. Land Rovers are now luxury vehicles and way outside our missionary budget. Muscle cars no longer exist and, if they did, would be useless on Costa Rican roads. The former Soviet Union is, by now, very former. Besides, I didn’t like it THAT much.

Seriously, we would appreciate your prayers. It is hard to find a good car at a reasonable price in Costa Rica. Vehicles have a 115% tax placed on them when they come into the country. So, used cars cost about twice what they do in the States.

My sincere hope is that this next car will be one that both of us enjoy. Even if that comes true, I doubt we will ever come to agreement about the music we play as we drive down the road of life together. Susan appreciates listening to Michael W. Smith and I prefer… well, maybe I should preserve what Christian testimony I still have with you.