Dear Dr. Laura:

There's a funny story that happened to me and my husband that I believe sums up what a marriage should be. 

Many years ago, my husband was getting dressed in the morning. He pulled out a pair of briefs and noted they were way too big--he wore a size 30 and these were size 36! He immediately turned to me and said with a mock glare, "What the heck is this?!" 

Three points: He thought it was funny, he knew there had to be a logical explanation, and he asked me rather than made stories up in his mind or wondered if I had been unfaithful. I in turn was completely flummoxed and started laughing. I had no clue how that pair of briefs ended up in his underwear drawer. I can only imagine how some couples would react--an automatic assumption that the wife had cheated and the 'other man' had left his underwear behind--accusations flying back and forth, worry and doubt and all the rest. For my husband, there was never any question in his mind, and for me, I never worried that he might have doubts. 

Two days later, he pulled out yet ANOTHER pair of wrong-sized briefs. I finally figured out what had happened. For our anniversary, we had gone on a weekend getaway. I remembered that as we were packing to leave, I looked under the bed and found underwear. Most likely, the prior occupant had left them and I just figured they were my husband's! Yes, kind of icky, but years later we still laugh about this incident. 

My husband is not a particularly romantic guy. It's very rare for him to send me flowers, nor does he go all out on anniversaries and birthdays. Instead, he is trustworthy, true to his word, amazing in a crisis, able to fix anything, as solid as a rock, a great father, a great provider, and above all, a real man. I could not be a more fortunate woman. Thanks for all you do!

Maria