There’s a commercial on daytime television lately that kind of drives me crazy. It’s for a kind of gutter protector that supposedly keeps leaves and debris out of gutters, so that only rain gets into them. This sounds great, and would be great…if they worked.
The ad represents well how these companies sell the leaf protection system. It shows a group of older folks, mostly couples, and a leader asks how many men still use ladders to clean their gutters. Many hands are raised, and the women-folk look upset, concerned, surprised, and occasionally irritated. The commercial emphasizes the dangers of older folks on ladders and pretty much paints a picture that any wife who would permit this behavior (like we control men, ha!) is a terrible person.
I have some issues with this ad. First of all, my husband is a grown man who can make his own decisions. If he wants to climb a rickety old ladder, fall off, and ruin Thanksgiving, not to mention taking years off my life, then my opinion will not change that. I know this from experience.
Secondly, the pitch on both the commercial and from the actual company who sells this device really hits hard on the “caring wife wouldn’t want her husband on a ladder” idea. I know this from experience, too. I almost felt I needed to go to confession after this pitch.
And finally, the stinking system doesn’t work. I know this from experience, as well! They come out, put up the leaf-resistant screening stuff and leave (after you pay them an extraordinary amount of money). The first rain, nothing but water comes out of the spout. The second rain, mostly water comes out. By the end of the first season, the gutters are plugged with sodden leaves and branches and the husband is going up the ladder, regardless of my pleas.
He does make one concession, however. Now when he cleans the gutters, he requests that I stand at the foot of the ladder when he does the job now. No, not to catch him or prevent a fall, just to be able to dial 911 if the ladder slips.
So, I’m pretty annoyed at the commercial and at these gutter-leaf machine companies who try to make me feel incompetent as a wife and person because I can’t stop my husband from doing something he’s done for roughly fifty years. Because if there’s one thing I am, it’s competent.
Or so I thought until today. My hubby and I have played cribbage ever since we’ve been married. The game is easy and typically we have close games, though he often wins the tournaments (cribbage boards allow you to track up to 7 games and whoever gets the 7th win first, wins the tournament).
Today we started a new tournament and I dealt first. We played the first game, which I won easily. Then we played a second game, in which I led for the first half. He came from behind with a stunning hand and beat me. So, we are currently tied, 1 – 1.
As he was putting the cards away, my husband started to laugh. He showed me the box and pulled out the Ace of Clubs from it. Apparently, I’d left one card behind when I started the game! So…maybe I’m not so competent after all?
Indeed, that commercial is irritating! My husband told me in April of this year that he was going to nail down a few loose shingles on the roof. He has plenty of experience in the field of roofing, construction, painting, etc. I did ask him to get one of our grandsons to do it. After all, he is 82 years old. Those men in that commercial are young compared to him! And, “Kevin, I told YOU….!” Who wants a man who can be intimidated, bullied and browbeaten by a woman! Henpecked! That’s what my mother called it.
Yes, we have the leaf-filtering system. My husband put that on himself a couple of years ago. He claimed the young whipper-snappers wouldn’t know what they were doing. And once again, Susie, you are right. They don’t work! It catches all of the maple tree seeds, debris and twigs! A heavy rain will cause the gutters to clog and rainwater spills over in various places.
BUT, at 82 years old, I do believe a man should use balance in making decisions. Like climbing a cherry tree with a cast on your leg. Yes, I too, have lost a few years off my life. Balance. Hmmm… Maybe if he purchased a pair of Hanes underwear? Ballance. To me, that commercial is disgusting! To each his own.
Keep writing, Susie. You make my day.