The Giants, “Warrior,” and a very Messy Banana Peel

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“Who left this banana peel here by the kitchen sink?” Hubby calls out before breakfast.

I’m around the corner, putting the yogurt back into the fridge. Yeah, our refrigerator is not in the kitchen, but that’s a blog for another day.“I was just about to throw it out.” I say as I emerge from the pantry/shoe room/coat room/fridge housing room.

“You mean you forgot to do it. Don’t say you were going to do something when you actually forgot to do it in the first place.”

These few lines of interchange nearly started World War III last Sunday morning. Wait. That was yesterday.
We had our latest battle of the wills, and what made this one worse, we duked it out verbally…in front of the kids. Recently, hubby said to me, “I feel like my life is a reality TV show. I never know what’s gonna end up on your blog.” He also said, “Wow! You always makes me look so great.”

So to bring some clarity for anyone out there who wonders if we ever fight, I assure you, we get into it I’m sure at least as often as the next couple.

I resolved long ago, perhaps as early as day two of our marriage, that I have anger issues. But don’t we all. Very few people have been taught a healthy way to deal with anger or conflict of any sort. Many of us tend to fall back on what we saw growing up, and if we’re lucky enough to recognize destructive patterns, maybe we pick up a book, take a class, or go to counseling. But no matter how many “tools” we accumulate, like the tile cutter that remains in a box under a pile of insulation in our garage, if we don’t use it, we tend to forget. And when we forget our options, we revert back to old ways.  And cutting tile with an exacto knife is just plain frustrating. And your hands pay for it with nicks and scratches.


Last week, we watched the movie “Warrior,” directed by Gavin O’Connor, and the bloody injuries that these mixed martial arts fighters endured both startled me and reminded me. When you fight, you bleed. I won’t spoil the ending, but I wanted to mention three things I loved about this movie. First, the characters were very believable, each traveling his own rocky journey of forgiveness. Second, I loved the action! Riveting and…so believable. But what I loved most of all was the message! How these two brothers nearly tore each other apart over a decision made in the past where neither saw the other’s point of view until it was almost too late. They forgot the truth—the very glue of every flourishing relationship—they were on the same team!

When the Giants kicked the field goal in overtime Sunday night, Facebookers [including myself] updated their statuses milliseconds later with shouts of victory or curses of defeat. Why? Because if you’re a New Yorker, that’s YOUR TEAM! And if you’re a Niner’s fan, your team is going home. And you hurt with them. 

I heard on the car radio today that Kyle Williams, the 49er whose knee happened to be in the wrong place at the wrong time, actually received death threats to his family on Twitter after the game finished. Are you kidding me? From fans!?! Is that how you treat your team members when they mess up? Is that how you want to be treated when you mess up? Because you will. Mess up. We all do. So about the banana peel that would have caused less damage if I had slipped on it and hit my head on the floor…I know I forgot that critical factor when I let my anger get the best of me. We’re on the same team! Me and Hubby. Hubby and Me. Sigh. I’m sorry Hubs…

Good game Niner’s! And Giants’ fans and family: See you Super Bowl Sunday!! I don’t know about you, but I think a TEAM HUG is in order! Gotta go. Hubs and hugs are a’ callin!
___________________________So…who are you rooting for in this year’s Super Bowl??
Have you seen the movie “Warrior?” Comments??

Dive Into Another Waterfall:

To Eye Contact or Not To Eye Contact
Fireworks of the Heart
Twas the Night Before I Found that One Thing … Part One

7 thoughts on “The Giants, “Warrior,” and a very Messy Banana Peel”

  2. I had a feeling we had a lot in common Cuban Blondie!! Thanks for you feedback!! Always! Yes! So Thankful for the Eternal Team that has no uniform or scoreboard!! Just the simple and profound Grace of God!! 🙂

  3. WOW! So simple yet so moving! I too argue with hubby. I say:
    “Don’t raise your tone, both my Mom and Dad are gone.” Gets him every time and then we kiss and hug. [btw….I too can get pretty loud and hubby is much sweeter about it than I am!] It’s going to be 25 years this February of raising tones and kissing after!
    We’re all in a team! We’re in God’s team because we are His children!
    Thanks Raj, for pointing this out to me: that no matter where, what, how, or when, I belong to a team in spite of all the banana peels I encounter as a wife, mother, and friend every day of my life!

  5. They say, “Marriage is like a roller coaster. The highs are higher and the lows are lower!”

    But who are “they” anyway?

  7. LOVED this post! aside from the new york football giants punching their ticket to the game, i love how you wove in personal anecdotes and movie plot lines. great work.

    oh yeah the first topic could have come right from our kitchen on any given day

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