FROM THE her

I REALIZE THIS ISN’T GROUNDBREAKING NEWS, but men and women are di erent. Men use single sections of their brain to accomplish tasks, while, when women problem solve, they access many sections of their brains at once. My husband and I experienced this lack of brain synchronicity rsthand when we were preparing for a three-day trip recently. While packing, he hastily threw into a du el bag two pair of pants, three shirts, three pair of underwear, and a toothbrush. I, however, thought about the what ifs and the could happens. at’s why my extralarge suitcase contained ip ops and rain boots, a parka and a bathing suit, plus a co ee maker and a 64-oz. bottle of soda. And some clothes, of course. I needed another bag entirely for my toiletries. Apparently, my husband and I are not alone though because there are tons of statistics showing that men and women approach travel very di erently.

ere are also statistics proving that travel can bring out the worst in people. I can attest to that, too, as I know a story about an awful traveler who was at her worst even while vacationing on the beautiful island of Maui. is woman was jet lagged to the point she became something of a zombie—a really bad-tempered zombie. She was so undeniably ornery that when her travel companion nudged her awake when the whale-watching tour they were on pulled beside a mama whale and her calf, she jumped up and screamed “It’s just a freakin’ whale for gosh sakes, leave me alone!” then stomped o to the other side of the boat to go back to sleep. (In her defense, she hadn’t slept in four days.)

Ok, ne…that story is about me. But surely it’s not just me whose worst self rears its ugly head occasionally during travel? After all, unfortunate things have a way of happening: ights get delayed, hotels overbook, luggage gets lost, or turbulence scares the beejeebies out of you because you’re a nervous yer and you didn’t have time for a pre-boarding margarita to numb your fears (umm…yea…that was me again).

It's the worst parts of travel, however, that proved to me my husband was Mr. Right when we rst vacationed together while dating. ough I’m fairly certain I heard an expletive or two as he lifted my suitcase into the car, when things really went awry, he reacted with a little chuckle and another margarita, embracing my grumpy, readyto-argue-about-everything vacationing self with nothing but grace and humor.

I love and adore that men are di erent from women; and in particular, I love and adore my delightfully-di erent-from-me husband. He may protest when I pack my suitcase, but he is wonderful in so many ways, and not just when he puts the seat down or lets me hold the remote control. And to be sure, since he loves me as a travel companion when my worst is not only on display, but front and center, certainly he deserves me at my best. ank you Paul Donahue for just being you.

Here’s to all of our Lake Norman men—we love you just as you are too, singlesection thinking brains and all! w

DANA JORDAN

June CONTRIBUTORS

Dr. Tiffany Brown-Bush; Dr. Ashley Lucas; Lindsay Martell; Mike Muldoon; Dr. Nicole Naylor; Courtney Weaver