October 25, 2023: A Strange Day, My Wife（珍しい一日、妻）

Yesterday was a strange day for me. I did not get my wife to cook my lunch and dinner. That was so rare that I could not remember when I had not had her cook them before. She sometimes does not cook my lunch, but it is very rare that she does not cook my dinner. So I was very surprised that she did not cook both lunch and dinner for me.
Yesterday, she woke up later than usual. She still seemed to  need time to get rid of her tiredness from caring for our grandchild. So she had no time to cook my lunch and before she went out to work, she asked me to buy something for lunch at a convenience store. I had no problem with it as it has sometimes happened. So I bought some bread for lunch at a Seven-Eleven store.
In the afternoon, she came back from work around 4:00 pm. Then, suddenly, she told me she would go out to a party at work that evening. I was confused with it because I did not expect it. It was very strange to me that she would join it because she had never joined any party at work before. She told me she could not refuse the invitation. I did not know what had gotten into her, but it seemed that she really needed to refresh herself as she was released from caring for our grandchild. At the same time, she gave me a takeaway for my dinner. She had bought it in a shop before she came back. Once again, I was amazed at how efficient she was. And I lost my words, so I had no choice but to follow what she said and did. It seemed that she really wanted to join it. I ate what she bought for me at dinner, as I was told. It was a lonely night for the first time in a long time. But I understand that she needs time to enjoy herself separately from me.

　昨日は、珍しい日でした。妻が、昼食と夕食を作ってくれなかったのです。こんな日は、いつ以来でしょうか。前回のことが思い出せません。お昼を作ってくれないことは時々あるのですが、夕食を作ってもらえないことはめったにありません。なので、昨日は、両方を作ってもらえず、びっくりでした。
　昨日の朝は、妻が起きてくる時間がいつもより遅れました。まだ、孫の世話の疲れが残っているようです。そのため、ボクのお昼ご飯を作る時間がなく、コンビニで何か調達するようにといって、仕事に出かけていきました。これはたまにあることなので、問題はなく、セブンイレブンでパンを買いました。
　午後の4時ごろに、妻が仕事から帰ってきました。そしたら、突然、今晩、外出すると言い出しました。職場の飲み会に誘われたのでいかなければならないとのこと。どうしてそんな気分になったのかわからないのですが、飲み会に行くのは驚きでした。いままで、一度もいったことがなかったのです。よほど、孫の世話から解放され、気分転換をしたかったのだと思います。そして、ボクの夕食にと、弁当を差し出しました。帰ってくる前に、店に立ち寄って買ってきたのです。手際の良さに、またびっくりです。こうなると、言葉がありません。言われた通りにするしかありませんでした。よほど、飲み会に参加したかったのでしょう。その日の夕食は、言われた通り、買ってきてくれたものを食べました。久々の寂しい夜でした。でも、ボクと別れて、楽しむ時間が必要なのもわかります。