Happy Birthday, Happy Husband!

There has been a blanket of “blah” over my city for the past week. Most of the sadness stems from a tragic accident at our zoo, one that I can’t stop visualizing before I go to sleep each night, one that has me holding my kids tighter and longer. But some of it consists of personal stories from family and friends: someone else has been diagnosed with the “C” word, another couple is divorcing, or strife has interfered with happiness. The saying when it rains, it pours is certainly holding true for many of us, eh?

I’ve said prayers for the families who are in need, and I’m counting on the Big Guy to handle things. Now it’s my responsibility to keep my family safe and happy, and I’m starting by celebrating the love in my life, and the love of my life: my husband.

Today is his birthday, and in honor of his special day, I’ve written a poem:

An Ode to My Husband

Wind pants, sandals with socks, and a sweater vest.
Your choice of attire isn’t my favorite,
But I feel at peace when I lay my head on your chest.

Raw onions, Rolling Rock, kielbasa and ‘kraut.
Your food choice makes me want to vomit,
But your steadfast loyalty reminds me what love is about.

John Mellancamp, the Stones, and the same movie every night on TBS.
It’s cute you don’t get bored with the same old thing,
You rarely notice my hair or make-up, so I don’t have to stress.

You’ve got great teeth, hair, and skin,
I love looking at our kids and seeing you–
Wanna do it again?!

You wake at 4:45, which no human should ever do,
But you choose to work when the family sleeps,
So we can spend more time with you.

Speaking of time, that golf sure takes up a ton,
Can’t you just play video games in the living room?
I hear that Halo is fun.

Your own cell phone is a mystery to you,
You’ve no idea half of what your computer can do,
But your inept technological ways are just another reason I love you.

I see the kids’ excitement when you return home,
I, too, get excited because if I don’t get six full minutes to myself, I could very well lose it.
Is it really too much to ask to hit the crapper alone?!

Okay, sorry, today isn’t about me; it’s about you and your birthday.
It’s about how you bring so much joy to us,
Just listen to what our kids have to say:

“Dad’s too rough when he washes my hair,”
“DADDYYYYY, cup, bark!”
Do you feel the love? It’s there.

On your birthday, I’d like to do something special, something I certainly don’t do enough.
If I did it as much as I thought about it, and wasn’t always so tired,
It probably wouldn’t be so tough:

Not only will I wash them, but I’ll dry and fold them, too;
I’ll take your socks from the laundry room,
And deliver them to you.

If that doesn’t scream “Satisfaction” (<—-see what I did there? A Rolling Stones allusion), I don’t know what will.
All I know is that you make me want to be a better person, wife, and mom,
And you make my life fulfilled.

Happy Birthday, my handsome husband!!!!!!!