What Makes My Marriage Work

By Susan “Honey” Good

My husband, Sheldon Good, is the lace in my shoe, the wind in my sail, the cream in my coffee, my rock of Gibraltar who fortifies and protects me with love and devotion. He could give a course to men in how to be the perfect mate. Once again, I sit alone with my thoughts; it is 4:43 a.m. to be exact. I ponder, asking myself what one word would I use to describe my husband as a mate. After much deliberation, I settled on one. INTENTION.  His intention, simply put, is to shower his love upon me by doing everything to make me feel loved and protected. Without my husband, I would be shoeless.

I swear I could tell you 365 stories, one for each day of the year of his intention to bring peace and harmony into our marriage. I will settle on one.

A successful marriage: How my husband proves his intention to love me

It was the merry month of May. My birthday. We were in New York to celebrate our grandson’s graduation from graduate school and my special day. We started out the day with a scrumptious breakfast at our little coffee shop around the corner from our hotel which was across the street from a Barneys.

“Let’s shop for you today,” said my husband who enjoys the art of shopping.

We started out at Barneys, where I bought a few pairs of boots. Most men would be itching to go. Not my husband. He sat patiently for well over an hour while I tried on shoes that would comfortably fit my bad feet.

Next, we headed up Madison Avenue dropping into every shop my little heart desired. His intention that day was to make me feel like “Pretty Woman.” And, darlings, I did.

It was 5:00 p.m. when we left the last shop. We knew we would have trouble finding a taxi so we walked to Park Ave. We were across the street from the park for the longest time trying to hail one of the thousands of taxi cabs that flew past us. Finally, I said, “I cannot stand any longer. My feet are killing me.”

“Ok, let’s walk one block to the red light at that corner.”

“I hope I can make it,” I replied.

I could not believe the scene that took place before my eyes as I stood where I was told on the corner of 5th Avenue at rush hour.

“Just stand right here,” he said.

“Ok. Where are you going?”

“Just watch me.”

 My husband walked out into traffic on 5th Avenue and put up his hand up to flag down any passing car. I could not believe what I was witnessing. He knew the only way we would ever get back to our hotel was to hitchhike.  His intention was to help me and my tired feet. 

Can you imagine how startled I was?  I have to tell you, I was laughing to myself as I thought, “my husband is one tough and resourceful guy.” I felt an overwhelming love and respect for him. After all, he is not a young man by any means. He was on a mission. His intention by hook or by crook was to help me.

Many cars and vans passed as he signaled them to stop. My man would not give up. Finally, a large van stopped. My husband grabbed me and literally threw me into the middle section of the van with my shopping bags falling all around me.

Recovering from my surprise, I looked into the front seat. A middle-aged man and his wife, wearing a Hijab, turned to look at us. Three young girls in the back seat were giggling.

“Thank you so much for helping us. Thank you for your kindness,” I said still in a state of shock. My husband told our story and all seven of us fell into non-stop conversation. We rode together for several blocks, the wife and I exchanging email addresses and the girls and I talking about their new braces and asking me what was in all my shopping bags. I had several samples of perfume in my handbag and gave each of the children one. They were so excited.

I looked over at my husband, my hero, took his hand in mine and thanked God for this man, this husband of mine.

As I sit in the still of the morning, it is now 6:08 a.m., I think to myself, “Every day of the year, being married to Sheldon Good, my ultimate concierge is Valentine’s Day. ”  I am blessed beyond to have a husband who has showered me with loving and caring intentions for the past 27 years.

Susan “Honey” Good is the founder of HoneyGood.com where this blog originally appeared. The site is a collection of lessons learned, life advice and insights from not only her, but from a fantastic group of contributing writers, each adding their own spice to the recipe. Honey Good.com representing “a family tree of women” — wives, mothers, daughters, granddaughters, mothers-in-law, daughters-in-law, sisters, aunts, cousins and girlfriends — coming together to talk about what makes them tick as well as what they have in common. Honey Good discusses life experiences with wisdom, humor and intellect, enabling all to attain a “Honey Good Style of Life.”