Setting the scenario
As near as I can estimate, it was about 22 years ago and NCIS was in its first or second season of airing on CBS. I was sitting in my reclining chair, talking on the phone, and my wife was viewing the investigative show with an unusual amount of interest. To this day, I'm not sure if it was the plot that drew her attention to the screen or an infatuation with the star of the show, Mark Harmon.
While I'm at it, let's put another spin on this story. Her interest in NCIS was only rivaled with another show, the Property Brothers when it appeared on HGTV.
My phone conversation
I can't recall what question my close friend, Joe Nastasi, asked me that evening, but whatever it was, I didn't know the answer. So, I replied to his inquiry with, "hold on for a second, and I'll ask (my wife) Terri."
Always considerate and mannerly
Covering the receiver-end of the phone with my palm, so I wouldn't seem as if I was yelling at Joe, I gently looked in my wife's direction and called, "Sweetie." Not only was there no response, but I noticed she seemed mesmerized and in a deep, trance-like gaze. It was apparent all of my wife's thought processes were being devoted to the program and she didn't know that I was trying to get her attention at all.
So, I called again, this time with a tad more volume, "hey Sweetie." Still, there was no answer.
Another two, louder attempts - "hey Sweetie!" But both were followed by the same nonexistent reply, so I pulled my hand off the receiver of the phone and proclaimed to Joe, "hold on, I can't seem to get Terri's attention."
Crank up the decibels
It was obvious, I had to pull out all the stops in an attempt to break my wife's deep-rooted enamor. So, I screamed, "hey Sweetie, I've been trying a number of times to get your attention!!"
Finally
After an obvious jolt reaction from my wife and a startled look in her eye, I knew in an instant that her hypnotic spell had been broken. She retorted back angrily, "I thought you were talking to Joe!!!"
So, there you have it. That is how I discovered that Joe was my new sweetie in my life and it's all due to Mark Harmon. Some unsolicited advice to my wife's acquaintances out there - if you call and re-runs of NCIS or the Property Brothers are on TV, don't be surprised if my wife doesn't want to take any calls.
