Oh, my!!! What a flashback that gave me. 'Nuther "war story":
Guy showed up to work on Monday morning lookin' like he'd been in a war; black eyes, scuffed cheek bones, fat lip, and limpin' ever so slightly. We said: "what the H--- happened to you, man?, since he was not known to drink to excess, and was a (we thought) single fella, didn't hang out in bars and such or keep rowdy company. He said "Ol woman caught up with me again." Seem he was married to a woman who seriously resembled that one in the picture there, and she had a habit of taking her frustrations out on him whenever they got to be too much for her to handle. He'd put up with it for a while, then take off in the middle of the night and disappear - do a long runner; and being a union Lineman, he could take his card and go on the books anywhere int he US or Canada, and have ready work. So, he would find someplace to hide, but being a conscientious sort, and wanting to do the right thing in taking care of his family (had six kids), he would send most of his paychecks back to her, and eventually, she would track him down, move in, and they would go at it again. He wouldn't divorce her because of the kids and religious considerations, and he would not avail himself of the services of a lady of the night, so when that woman would find him again, he would put up with the abuse until he just couldn't take it, then go on the lam again. She had been in town about three months, and one Friday afternoon he told the Super that he was quitting, and to give his final check to her; no forwarding address or anything, he was just gone. Heck of a way to live.
Thanks for the coffee and the ears. Was sorta late getting in here today, but had to get out and get something done outside this morning before it got too warm to be in the sun for long; been in the triple digits for several days, now, and will continue for a few more before it tempers off some, but summer is peekin' 'round the corner for sure.