A Special Day Today

Today is my husband's birthday. Today he turned 64 years old.

As is very characteristic, he didn't want anything for his birthday except a nice dinner: Mussels in a Saffron Cream Sauce and Chocolate Flan Cake. He feels like he has everything.

Tom is one of the most loving men I've ever known in my entire life. He has loved me unconditionally from the first time he said, "I love you." And loves his sons, daughters-in-law and grandkids more deeply than they could ever realize. He would do anything within his power for any one of us.

Tom is a man who'd rather give than receive. If you ask him if he is able to do something for you, he doesn't even think twice before saying yes. If it needs to be done and you ask him to do it, it's done.

Tom is also one of the happiest people I know. I joked with him last Sunday as he headed for church that he was going to be the happiest, most upbeat person there even though he was a little depressed. And I was right. He opens the door for church goers, welcomes them with a warm "Good Morning! Good to see you," often shaking their hands or patting their backs.

People are very comfortable with Tom, so much so that even restaurant servers and gas station or grocery clerks find it easy to reveal their very personal problems, issues and idiosyncrasies after Tom merely says "Hi! How are you today?" I tease Tom, asking him to please not ask people how they are because they will tell him, and 30 minutes later, I will still be waiting to leave for the destination or event for which we will now be late.

Tom is a hard and disciplined worker, rising early every single morning without an alarm clock, following his morning routine of coffee, oatmeal, packing his lunch and out the door around 7:15 am. He will work hard all day long, come home, shower, eat dinner, watch a little tv, then do it all again the next day. On weekends he can barely contain himself and by 8:00 am or so, he is out in the yard, in the garage or working on some other project at hand. When he does relax, he prefers to do so on the water in his old sailboat.

So, I have a Chocolate Flan Cake in the oven. Yesterday, Tom bought the mussels and I will cook them in his favorite sauce for dinner with lots of bread on the side to sop up the sauce. And he will think he's had the best birthday ever! Because that's just the kind of guy he is.

Happy Birthday, Honey! I love you and yes, I am grateful for being able to share this life with you.