His Excuse for Everything!

Part II

August 5th, 1978 to August 5th, 2012:  Thirty four years of mostly happily ever after.  On this anniversary we celebrate by going to brunch at a historic hotel dining room and then will attend Roman Holiday at the Guthrie Theater.  The ticket for the play was a gift from our son for Christmas and my birthday 18 months ago, I was saving it for something special; this qualifies!  Yup, I'm HIGH MAINTENANCE!  I want our  anniversary the focus of life on this day each year!

Ten years ago I had the great idea that we should take turns planning the anniversary date.  He said, "Okay, but I don't want this to turn into some kind of contest each year."  At 24 years I said, "Oh no, I planned a trip to Door County, Wisconsin."  The next year, our Silver Wedding Anniversary, became HIS year to plan.  He shooed me out of the house for a month or so in the evenings telling me he was working on a project.  I believed him.

My 1957 Chevy Bel Air

On our anniversary morning I had an appointment and when I came home he said, "I need some help with the garage door."  Still oblivious, I followed him out of the house barefooted.  Our next door neighbor was outside but I dutifully watched as Mr. Wonderful pushed the garage door opener.  In  the middle of the garage was the car we had looked at but couldn't afford 18 months earlier!  I said, "Did you rent it for us for the day?!"  He handed me a silver engraved key ring and said, "It's yours!"  In the back seat a vintage radio was playing (wait for it) "Tammy's in Love." 

Now, I confessed, I'm high maintenance but not THAT HIGH!  He is romantic, but not THAT ROMANTIC!  The car I had wanted from the time I was in high school was the ultimate gift, next came a photo album with the first 25 years of our life together chronicled inside.  I got in the car and he took me to a park for lunch on silver rimmed china, silver rimmed crystal goblets!  Driving home again he told me that we were going to a Bed & Breakfast for the night!  Yup, 25 years of romance in ONE day.  Yes, I renewed his contract for the next 25 years.

It was an amazing anniversary, and completely shocking to me.  My beloved had purchased the car over a year before, stored it and waited through my having a job I hated, our son going through Basic Training and me being a train wreck waiting for his graduation, and a few other life issues that were not all that pleasant.  He told me that many times he almost weakened and thought about giving me the car before the 25th Anniversary.  I"m glad he waited.

So on this day and any other day, what is 'His Excuse for Everything'?  

 "I gave you a car once!"