When doing my weekly slow browse through the New York Times Magazine, I came across this gem in and article about the modern Disney road trip by John Jeremiah Sullivan:
M. J. often springs trips and appointments on me, in some cases literally overnight, knowing that if she removes the time factor, I won’t be able to generate bogus neurotic back-out plans. Many of the best vacation memories of my life I owe to these strategies, which prove again a useful principle for all couples: don’t try to change each other. Study and subvert each other.
A recent conversation with David:
Me: Gina says that it never works to try to change my mind directly, but if she convinces me that her idea was actually my idea in the first place, I just don’t remember it, then I’m delighted to go along with the new plan. Isn’t that genius?
David: I’ve been doing that for years.
Study and subvert.
Picture: Sunday Dim Sum, makeup-less
