If you only had two words to describe me, what would they be? I asked Pretty night before last when we were in bed and both still awake after midnight.

The Australian Open began this week – the first Grand Slam tennis tournament of 2023 – my professional tennis addiction would be in full display for the next two weeks. Oh yes, I watch the events “live” on Australia time which means play begins at 7:00 p.m. my time and continues throughout the night until someone (me) is asleep in front of the Telly. Pretty hangs for a while but goes to bed around 10 o’clock. Pretty is a bit of a wuss, Mate.

But I digress. On this particular night the AO had just started, and I wasn’t quite in match shape yet so I had come to bed a little before midnight only to find Pretty up late finishing a book she loved. I took my bedtime meds which tend to make me a little chatty with Pretty who prefers peace and quiet and no bedtime meds if possible. I climbed into bed, got under the covers and for some reason I can’t remember decided to play a two-word game with Pretty who admittedly tried to ignore me at first.

Ok, I said, I know what two words I would use to describe you. Funny and smart. Yep, 100% funny and smart are the two words that come to my mind immediately if you asked me to describe you in just two words. Of course, I have lots of other words, too, but those are the first two words.

Silence.

Ok, I said, now what are the first two words you would use to describe me?

Hm, Pretty said. Well, of course I would say Funny right off the bat. For sure Funny, but I’m having a little trouble with the second word. I’m trying to think of a second one, but hm…is dogged a word?

Dogged? I asked. Didn’t you mean something like determined?

No, Pretty said. I’d have to say stronger than determined, and she turned a page in the book she was reading.

How about persistent? I tried.

No, definitely not persistent, she replied. Much, much more than persistent, she added.

I continued to run other words past Pretty who never looked up from her book: tenacious? purposeful? focused? resolute? She continued to shake her head with each guess I offered.

No, she said, I’m staying with my original “dogged.”

But you weren’t even sure what that word meant, I protested.

I just remembered, Pretty said. At this point she sighed, closed her book, and reached to turn off her light.

Not to be outdone I looked up “dogged” in my Webster’s Thesaurus today in the bright light of day – the synonym given was “stubborn.”

Point taken. I should have been thankful for Funny – and let it go.

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Slava Ukraini. For the children.