# Chapter 272

Debate time for my wife is breakfast time. The only thing I can do at that hour is grunt and snort. I am not a morning person, not for conversation at least. Talking requires too much from me and I honestly can’t give it. It is hands down the most difficult part of every day when I am visiting my dad, because he is talking full steam ahead. Thankfully he doesn’t really require an answer like my wife does. Answers are optional with my dad, his is more a monologue, but not with Brenda. She wants input, debate and discussion. Not a chance. There is simply not that within me.

At lunch? Oh yeah I am totally up for all the conversation you can handle and more. I can debate the feathers off a chicken at lunch. Unfortunately my lovely wife is often and typically distracted by many other matters by the time lunch comes and so debates are rare in the middle of the day. Plus we often have guests and they might not understand the discussion since it is frequently about some esoteric something or other than Brenda wants to tangle about.

What can you do when you are internally on such a different functional schedule than your dearly beloved? I am not sure. This morning made me very uncomfortable as I very nearly had to ignore her to finally stem the endless rolling waves of questions and baiting and debate, and she finally relented. Not only can I not talk and debate early in the morning, but I can’t govern my emotions very well either. Both are disastrous for civil conversation.