Carolyn Hax is away. The following first appeared June 2, 2010, and has been lightly edited.
Dear Carolyn: My husband and I have been married 2½ years. We have a good marriage, but this winter, during a casual conversation in front of the TV, I was fishing for a compliment, and he responded that he considers me “an eight” (out of 10) in terms of looks.
I got really upset. He claims that he was trying to make an unsuccessful joke and that he thinks I look great. I have a hard time seeing the humor.
I told him he needs to make…
