My wife is the toughest gentle person I know. She's got what I call "quiet strength". She won't be domineering but if she's right, she'll outlast you. And she's often right. (Case in point: Wednesday morning we ran together. By late afternoon I was feeling dog-tired and sore and attributed it to our run. "Your sick," she said.
"No I'm not--I'm just sore from the run."
"Nope, you're getting sick."
Guess what--I was sick.
I've learned if she's willing to fight for it, she's right and my best option is to listen to her and reevaluate what I think. You can safely call her an agent of humility in my life. Truth is, I like being right. Gil helps me remember that I'm often not. And then gently helps me see my way to what is right.
And the funny thing about this her sheriff-like ability to stick with it when she's right is somewhat hereditary. She comes from law enforcement stock. Gil's maiden name is Erspamer--a not common name. And she's one of the Erspamers of Northern Wisconsin. Turns out an old relative of her's, Frank Erspamer, was once a law enforcement agent in hot pursuit of none other John Dillinger. So many questions now answered;-)...
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