In their 23 years of cohabitation, Mel and Ron had reached achieved an efficient level of consensus. Holiday, theatre and cinema choices had all passed without rancour. Co-operation in the upbringing of son Ben was effective (although Ben was unlikely to return to the family home once his college days had expired).
They had reached deep agreement over the marking of high days and holidays. Birthdays were briefly acknowledged, Christmas was not much different from other days in the way of festive food. New Year resolutions were beneath contempt – that is, until quite recently.
However, in the last 3 years or so bolts in the wheels of the consensual enterprise had seemed to become slightly loosened.
It was Mel that opened the bidding on new year resolutions with a killer move.
‘Next year’, she announced over the festive dinner, ‘I intend to become vegan and that includes cheese and dairy’.
The two had always tended towards vegetarianism without full commitment. They acknowledged that the cheese issue would always stand between them and veganism and could see no way forward.
After the few seconds needed for recovery, Ron felt able to counter the announcement with admirable poise:
‘Interesting you’ve been thinking about health, I’ve just taken out an online subscription to the Ramblers Association. They have local walks and some are really easy. The easy ones are usually on a Saturday’.
Mel was aghast but maintained outward calm.
‘I may not always be able to join you. Remember, I’m on the waiting list for a knee replacement and some days the pain is off the scale’
‘Yes, that might hold us up a bit. Maybe a walking frame would help over flat stretches? Should I enquire at that shop in town that sells mobility aids?’ Ron offered helpfully
Clearly Mel could never allow her youthfully vigorous exterior to be compromised in this manner but she did manage a slight incline of the head in acknowledgement.
And so the resolutions were enacted. It need not be a matter of public record that Ron found a favourite pub to avoid the more difficult rambles, nor need we hear of Mel’s frequent succumbing to the Costa in the next town which offered her respite – mac’n cheese and adequate quantities of luxury hot chocolate with cream and marshmallows.
As the year progressed, each reviewed their progress and offered mutual support. Ron had purchased a decorative walking stick for Mel’s birthday and Mel had found a book warning of the dangers of excessive exercise for middle aged men for Ron.
AS Christmas approached, with its Aldi vegan roast with a side order of turkey for Ron, Mel announced her aspiration for the coming year:
‘Next year I will be completely caffeine free.’ That was a good strike.
A winded Ron recovered long enough to declare his plan to remove all traces of alcohol from his life.
And so the years before the divorce progressed. No fault. No winners or losers just a sensible, adult resolution.
