--- title: "Meaning & Key Takeaway of: What would you do if Ree became gravely…" description: "\"“What would you do if Ree became gravely ill?” Father Johnson asked Marlboro Man. “Well, sir,” Marlboro Man replied, “I’d take care of her.” “Who’s goi..." image: "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/ree-drummond-818_parenting_what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely_3076221.png" --- # What would you do if Ree became gravely ill?” Father… ![“What would you do if Ree became gravely ill?” Father Johnson asked Marlboro Man. “Well, sir,” Marlboro Man replied, “I’d take care of her.” “Who’s going to do the cooking in your household?” Marlboro Man smiled. “Ree’s a great cook,” he answered. I sat up proudly in my chair, trying not to…” quote by Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/ree-drummond-818_parenting_what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely_3076221.png) [Download](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/ree-drummond-818_parenting_what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely_3076221.png) [Open image](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/ree-drummond-818_parenting_what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely_3076221.png) > ““What would you do if Ree became gravely ill?” Father Johnson asked Marlboro Man. “Well, sir,” Marlboro Man replied, “I’d take care of her.” “Who’s going to do the cooking in your household?” Marlboro Man smiled. “Ree’s a great cook,” he answered. I sat up proudly in my chair, trying not to remember the Linguine with Clam Sauce and the Marinated Flank Steak and whatever other well-intentioned meals I’d massacred early in our relationship. “What about the dishes?” Father Johnson continued, channeling Gloria Steinem. “See yourself helping out there?” Marlboro Man scratched his chin and paused. “Sure,” he said. “Honestly, these aren’t really things we’ve sat down and talked about.” His voice was kind. Polite. I wanted to crawl in a hole. I wanted to have my gums scraped. I wanted to go fight that huge prairie fire from a while back. Anything would be better than this. “Have you talked about how many children you’d like to have?” “Yes, sir,” Marlboro Man said. “And?” Father Johnson prodded. “I’d like to have six or so,” Marlboro Man answered, a virile smile spreading across his face. “And what about Ree?” Father Johnson asked. “Well, she says she’d like to have one,” Marlboro Man said, looking at me and touching my knee. “But I’m workin’ on her.”” [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## About This Quote This interpretation was drafted with AI assistance. It is one reading of the quote, not the author's own explanation. The passage explores the tension between personal aspirations and relational responsibilities, highlighting communication gaps. **In simple terms:** Balancing dreams and duties is hard. Key Takeaway Communicate openly about expectations. Themes relationships responsibility communication Mood introspective empathetic Type narrative conversational When to use this quote - marriage counseling - career decisions - family planning Key Concepts gender roles life planning Questions to Reflect On - What conversations are avoided in your partnership? - How do you negotiate personal goals with shared life? A Different Perspective Idealized roles can clash with reality. ★ ★ ★ ★ ★ No ratings yet [Asked Marlboro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/asked-marlboro-862889/) [Gloria Steinem](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/gloria-steinem/) [Helping Marlboro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/helping-marlboro-5227444/) [Like Marlboro](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/like-marlboro-1818589/) [Man Said](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/man-said/) [Marlboro Man](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/marlboro-man/) [Parenting](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/parenting/) [Said Father](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/about/said-father/) ## Related quotes > [“Have you talked about how many children you’d like to have?” “Yes, sir,” Marlboro Man said. “And?” Father Johnson prodded. “I’d like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/have-you-talked-about-how-many-children-you-d-like-to-have-yes-sir/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I looked around and realized we were headed down a different road than Marlboro Man would normally take. “I have to give you your…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-looked-around-and-realized-we-were-headed-down-a-different-road/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“C’mon!” Marlboro Man shouted, jumping onto the back of a nearby spray truck driven by an elderly man. “Hop in there with Charlie!” He…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/c-mon-marlboro-man-shouted-jumping-onto-the-back-of-a-nearby-spray/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“One late afternoon, we crossed a creek and came upon a thicket of trees in the middle of a pasture quite a ways from…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/one-late-afternoon-we-crossed-a-creek-and-came-upon-a-thicket-of/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Come over early tomorrow morning,” Marlboro Man asked over the phone one night. “We’re gathering cattle, and I want you to meet my mom…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/come-over-early-tomorrow-morning-marlboro-man-asked-over-the-phone/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Spring flew by and summer quickly arrived; my belly grew right alongside the daylilies, zinnias, and tomatoes Marlboro Man’s mom had helped me plant…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/spring-flew-by-and-summer-quickly-arrived-my-belly-grew-right/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’d never been with anyone like Marlboro Man. He was attentive--the polar opposite of aloof--and after my eighteenth-month-long college relationship with my freshman love…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-d-never-been-with-anyone-like-marlboro-man-he-was-attentive-the-2/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Have you talked about how many children you’d like to have?” “Yes, sir,” Marlboro Man said. “And?” Father Johnson prodded. “I’d like to have…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/have-you-talked-about-how-many-children-you-d-like-to-have-yes-sir-2/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Unintentionally, each time a new cow would pass through the chute, I’d instinctively bear down. I was just as pregnant as many of the…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/unintentionally-each-time-a-new-cow-would-pass-through-the-chute-i-d/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“We both like Marlboro Reds, both eat pastrami and Swiss, and both have holes in our hearts big enough to swallow us whole. What…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/c-m-stunich/we-both-like-marlboro-reds-both-eat-pastrami-and-swiss-and-both-have/) [C.M. Stunich](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/c-m-stunich/) > [“Marlboro Man picked me up the next evening, exactly one month before our wedding day. Our evening apart had made the heart grow fonder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/marlboro-man-picked-me-up-the-next-evening-exactly-one-month-before/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I walked proudly out of the church, the new wife of Marlboro Man. When we exited the same doors through which my dad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-walked-proudly-out-of-the-church-the-new-wife-of-marlboro-man-when/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. People were absolutely everywhere: scurrying and mingling and sipping champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-we-arrived-at-the-wedding-at-marlboro-man-s-grandparents-house-i/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“You did not do my homework assignment for me,” he said, grabbing the collage again and looking it over. “I had insomnia,” I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/you-did-not-do-my-homework-assignment-for-me-he-said-grabbing-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“More and more, I began helping around the homestead. I learned to operate my John Deere mower so I could keep the yard around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/more-and-more-i-began-helping-around-the-homestead-i-learned-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## More by Ree Drummond > [“What else haven’t you told me?” I thought for a minute. “Actually, yes…there is,” I replied, pausing to consider my words carefully, “I eat…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-else-haven-t-you-told-me-i-thought-for-a-minute-actually-yes/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [Butter, cream, and bacon. That's such a great foundation right there.](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/butter-cream-and-bacon-that-s-such-a-great-foundation-right-there/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“More and more, I began helping around the homestead. I learned to operate my John Deere mower so I could keep the yard around…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/more-and-more-i-began-helping-around-the-homestead-i-learned-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I walked proudly out of the church, the new wife of Marlboro Man. When we exited the same doors through which my dad and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-walked-proudly-out-of-the-church-the-new-wife-of-marlboro-man-when/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When we arrived at the wedding at Marlboro Man’s grandparents’ house, I gasped. People were absolutely everywhere: scurrying and mingling and sipping champagne and…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-we-arrived-at-the-wedding-at-marlboro-man-s-grandparents-house-i/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“What is it?” I asked, pasting a magazine photo of a football--found in an old Seventeen magazine spread--on my beloved’s collage. “Well, a bunch…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-is-it-i-asked-pasting-a-magazine-photo-of-a-football-found-in-an/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“When I arrived, I immediately saw the mother of an ex-boyfriend, the kind of ex-boyfriend that would make you want to look as good…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/when-i-arrived-i-immediately-saw-the-mother-of-an-ex-boyfriend-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“At times the differences concerned me. Could I ever be with a man who’d never, in his entire life, eaten sushi? Could I, a…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/at-times-the-differences-concerned-me-could-i-ever-be-with-a-man-who/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“You did not do my homework assignment for me,” he said, grabbing the collage again and looking it over. “I had insomnia,” I said.…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/you-did-not-do-my-homework-assignment-for-me-he-said-grabbing-the/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I couldn’t bear the thought of a ham sandwich. Imagining milk trickling down my esophagus almost sent me over the edge. Even the saltines…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-couldn-t-bear-the-thought-of-a-ham-sandwich-imagining-milk/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Marlboro Man picked me up the next evening, exactly one month before our wedding day. Our evening apart had made the heart grow fonder,…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/marlboro-man-picked-me-up-the-next-evening-exactly-one-month-before/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll send the nurse in here in a minute, okay?” Waste of time , I thought. “Okay, but…do you think there’s anything we can…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-send-the-nurse-in-here-in-a-minute-okay-waste-of-time-i-thought/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“How come I wasn’t riding around in his middle seat? Was I supposed to initiate this? Was this expected of me? Because I probably…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/how-come-i-wasn-t-riding-around-in-his-middle-seat-was-i-supposed-to/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“I’ll see you in the morning. Oh, and hey…if I don’t answer the door right away it probably means I’m doing some weight training…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/i-ll-see-you-in-the-morning-oh-and-hey-if-i-don-t-answer-the-door/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) > [“Minutes later, we were back at the sliding glass door that led inside the house--me, leaning against the glass, Marlboro Man anchoring me there…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/minutes-later-we-were-back-at-the-sliding-glass-door-that-led-inside/) [Ree Drummond](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) [Explore all 361 Ree Drummond quotes ](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/) ## More Parenting quotes > [My mother says I didn't open my eyes for eight days after I was born, but when I did, the first thing I saw…](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/elizabeth-taylor/my-mother-says-i-didn-t-open-my-eyes-for-eight-days-after-i-was-born/) [Elizabeth Taylor](https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/elizabeth-taylor/) > [Of all the people who have affected my life and influenced the choices I've made, none has been more important than my father. 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I sat up proudly in my chair, trying not to remember the Linguine with Clam Sauce and the Marinated Flank Steak and whatever other well-intentioned meals I’d massacred early in our relationship. “What about the dishes?” Father Johnson continued, channeling Gloria Steinem. “See yourself helping out there?” Marlboro Man scratched his chin and paused. “Sure,” he said. “Honestly, these aren’t really things we’ve sat down and talked about.” His voice was kind. Polite. I wanted to crawl in a hole. I wanted to have my gums scraped. I wanted to go fight that huge prairie fire from a while back. Anything would be better than this. “Have you talked about how many children you’d like to have?” “Yes, sir,” Marlboro Man said. “And?” Father Johnson prodded. “I’d like to have six or so,” Marlboro Man answered, a virile smile spreading across his face. “And what about Ree?” Father Johnson asked. “Well, she says she’d like to have one,” Marlboro Man said, looking at me and touching my knee. “But I’m workin’ on her.”", "creator": { "@type": "Person", "name": "Ree Drummond" }, "isPartOf": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website" }, "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely-ill-father-johnson-asked/", "about": { "@type": "Thing", "name": "Parenting" }, "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely-ill-father-johnson-asked/#quotation", "image": { "@type": "ImageObject", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/ree-drummond-818_parenting_what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely_3076221.png", "contentUrl": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/ree-drummond-818_parenting_what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely_3076221.png", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/i/444/ree-drummond-818_parenting_what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely_3076221.png", "width": 1080, "height": 1080, "caption": "“What would you do if Ree became gravely ill?” Father Johnson asked Marlboro Man. “Well, sir,” Marlboro Man…” — Ree Drummond", "creditText": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "creator": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } } }, { "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "name": "Home", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "name": "Quotes", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "name": "Ree Drummond", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/author/ree-drummond/" }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 4, "name": "“What would you do if Ree...", "item": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely-ill-father-johnson-asked/" } ], "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/ree-drummond/what-would-you-do-if-ree-became-gravely-ill-father-johnson-asked/#breadcrumb" }, { "@type": "WebSite", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#website", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "publisher": { "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization" } }, { "@type": "Organization", "@id": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/#organization", "name": "SMS4Smile Quotes", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://sms4smile.com/quotes/wp-content/themes/sq/assets/icons/icon-512.png", "width": 512, "height": 512 } } ] } ```