Saturday, August 10, 2019

Seventeen

This is the first time in a number of years that I woke up on my Anniversary and was not able to kiss my wife on the cheek to start off another year of marriage. Isaiah had a major baseball tourney in Cooperstown (see highlights on my social medias) that means I’ll get home late on a hallowed day in the Team Carroll household. Before I get into this year’s note, let me first say that I am by no means the perfect hubby. Reading comments last year I feel like you fine folks give me way too much credit. I promised myself I would start this year giving a few low lights so you better understand what Nkechi really has to put up with.

3. I forget to take the trash cans down the driveway (occasionally). May seem like a small thing, but I can only imagine how bad Nkechi wants to throw a shoe at my head when she walks in after long day on set and she has to then wheel the trash cans to the curb. Meanwhile I’m in the house chillin watching Queen Sugar.

2. I come up with lame gifts sometimes. Much like Janet Jackson (who we’re going to see next week), I’ve had some stellar gift hits, but also some duds. I’m surprised she didn’t take the Clinique set I got her for Valentines Day back to the store. Don’t know how I convinced myself that would be a good idea.

1. I once failed to secure Mothers Day Brunch reservations. I know. IDIOT. The phrase “You had one job!” comes to mind. And this is number one with a bullet because I. It only let my wife down, but MY OWN MOTHER. I had to wear it that day because i deserved all of it.

Now do you see why it’s the LEAST I can do to shower Nkechi with some love each 8/10?!

This year, it occurs to me to put it out there in the world that since the Mrs is getting feature stories written about her, regular DEADLINE props for “All-American” and is running the show that I need to become more the Draymond Green to her Steph Curry in contrast to the Penny Hardaway to her SHAQ as I mentioned last year. Draymond Green? You might ask. How you figure that? Let me explain.

Much like basketball has become position-less, I think marriage has become role-less. There’s not just one provider like there’s not just a primary ball handler. Tall centers no longer stand in the paint and wait to get passed the ball just like women no longer wait at home for their partner to bring home the check. They go get their own. You get my drift. Draymond Green has become a 100M dude in the League because he’s quick enough to keep up with guards while being strong enough to battle big men. There’s three particular attributes of Draymond’s game that I’ll be incorporating into my hubby game to help make Nkechi a unanimous MVP like Steph and not stroke out due to stress:

1. SCREENING - Of course Steph is more than able to create on his own off the dribble, but he also gets a fair amount of free looks because of solid screens set by Draymond. As the Mrs has more and more come her way, my screen game will also be increasing so that she continues to have both the time to create and her time to recharge.

2.  BOXING OUT - Draymond leads his squad in rebounding and to do that you have to box out. Every possession is important in a game and you have to fight to maintain possessions of the ball. With all of the competition for the Mrs time, I’m finding the need to be more vocal about carving out space for us. I’ve seen what it looks like when folks get so busy that they lose sight of the marriage (ball) and someone else swoops in to disrupt things. Not trying to get outhustled when it comes to the Mrs. Ever

3.  TRUTH SERUM - We know Draymond Green has no filter. Doesn’t mind beefing with his Coach. Didn’t mind telling KD where he could take his talents. In the past I have been the type of listener who tried to let the Mrs come to her own read of a situation or person.  Now that the volume of people who would like to be on her radar has increased,  I’m calling BS when I see it. We have a wonderful village that we’ve built through the years. To become a member now is to come with love and good intentions. Anything else and your messing up the Team. Like Draymond, I’m not about having the dynasty I helped build messed up.

Love you Nkechi. Here’s to another year.