When you’ve lived a pretty self-sufficient life, as I and many women have, you tend to take your basic skills for granted. But there is a wide divide between how I’ve lived and how other people live.

“Other people” being professional men.

Something I was reminded of the other day.

I was boxing up gifts on Black Friday, and asked M. to help me wrap the mailing boxes with wide packing tape.

First, he had to put a fresh tape roll on the dispenser. This was a total mystery to him; under his scheme the tape clearly would’ve stuck to the plastic guide.

Then, he had to turn the box while I wrapped the tape. Just turn it round and round for me so I could get a smooth seal. He had never done that before and had no idea what I meant.

This is a man who worked summers in his father’s lumberyard. Who used to be what we call “handy.” Who could wire a house. Who does crosswords in pen. Who’s one of the best lawyers in his field.

I was flabbergasted.

“Have you never packed a box for mailing before?” I asked.

“Nope,” he said. “People have always done that for me.”

Dirty little secrets. They always come out in the end.