Daily Draw: Tarot of the Gnomes ~ 9 of Swords

What a great 9 of Swords interpretation. Two fight, one wins. And there are so many shades of winning and losing but today I'm laughing. My father-in-law is the most stubborn man I know, and at 89 he isn't likely to change. He still wants things done his way on his schedule...well last summer his TV died, so he brought out a smaller one he had and has been watching that one. Fine, right? Erm, no...he absolutely refused to admit he couldn't carry the big TV out so all this time it has been tied into the easy chair by the TV stand. As far as I know every single person that has been in the house since that time has offered to move it. And he has refused point blank, that would be admitting something got the better of him. My husband has offered to move it at least 15 times. And on they dueled.

Yesterday Rob had enough, went to the store bought him a new twice-as-big flat screen and while his dad was feeding the cows he took it in, installed and set it up, hauled out both the old ones which won't work after next February anyway, and stuck them in the back of the pick-up. Neither one of them have said a word to the other about it. So did Gene win or did Rob win? I think they both won, as much as two stubborn men are able.

I'm reminded that it is less stressful to chose my battles. I can lose any number of small ones to get leverage for a big one. Maybe it doesn't work for everyone but it works for me.

"I thoroughly disapprove of duels. If a man should challenge me, I would take him kindly and forgivingly by the hand and lead him to a quiet place and kill him." ~ Mark Twain 1835-1910

Tarot of the Gnomes from Lo Scarabeo, art by Antionio Lupatelli, published in 2000. The full size of this deck has been out of print for some time, but the mini-decks can still be found.