The banter last night on the Mercy post got me thinking… would you really want to be Owen? If I was a guy, I probably wouldn’t.
Â
Owen is in his early – or maybe mid – thirties. He has a dead end, poorly paid job in middle management that increasingly frustrates him because he’s no fool. The only good thing about it, you would think, is that he works in cricket. But the long hours and feeling of being put upon have taken their toll, and he has fallen out of love with the game.
Â
Because he doesn’t have a great deal of money, he shares a house with his brother. He’s big on family and he’s close to his family – so that’s a plus point. I would guess he hasn’t been in ‘a relationship’ for a while.
Â
He isn’t bad looking, but he’s no Adonis either. He’s of medium height and medium build. He used to be slimmer, but these days he doesn’t have much time to exercise, and because he has no time, he tends to live off sandwiches and chips from the club bar. His fair hair is beginning to recede and he normally wears an anxious expression.
Â
As I think I have said before, he is very particular in his dress – a bit of a stuffed shirt perhaps? Not very good at handling his feelings maybe? When I first met him I was convinced he was gay, because he always made very charming comments about my jewellery and hair. Owen is charming, and possibly even manipulative.
Â
His hobbies are all action-man stuff; mountain biking, diving, surfing… and the fact he doesn’t stop makes me wonder what he’s running away from. And now, to cap it all, perhaps he’s beginning to fall for a married woman. At the very least, he likes her, and maybe wishes she had a single sister (or brother!).
Â
Contrast Owen with my husband. He’s forty this year, and his hair is greying around his temples, but in a very sexy way, because he’s a good-looking man. He is also tall – but perhaps carrying a tiny bit too much weight. Like Owen, he works long hours and doesn’t often get to the gym.
Â
But the rewards for his work are great. He earns a lot of money, and has status within his organisation. He has become very successful without being a bastard, which is mighty unusual. He is honest and straight forward; clever and hard working. People warm to him. In a year or two he plans to drop down a gear, take a less stressful job, enjoy his gardening, fishing and cricket a little more. Financial security is not an issue.
Â
He is married to his first love and it’s a really strong marriage. We are best friends, and that is an incredible bond. We love spending time together (although not too much time – we won’t live in each others’ pockets); we hug and kiss and have a laugh. He’s not a great talker, but his wife has learnt to live with that.
Â
So in all honesty, who would really want to be Owen?
hehe…all the owen putting down makes me think, he is a charmer and your self conscious is trying to reduce his stature to prevent you from doing something “extra curricular”
There are lots of Owens out there…many of us are owen at some points in our lives as well.. That dead end job doing guy who is going nowhere with no one.
I think by now owen has the hiccups. He also has the “almost affections” of someone else’s loving wife. I think we are under estimating owen here.
why the hell would I want to Compare Owen with your hubby? they are two distinct people.
Who knows your husband is sick and tired of you and wants out? Who are you to patronize a hard working person like Owen. At least he is not looking down upon anyone else.
Hmmm… food for thought in those comments, certainly. It is indeed possible I’ve picked up some vibe my husband is sick of me; my friend Tats believes Owen is being deliberately manipulative and so we shouldn’t underestimate him. One thing is sure, I didn’t mean to put him down – but obviously I did – which makes me think Faisal could be right too. Perhaps I’d better stop all this navel gazing!