My Wife’s Birthday

I will admit I can be verbose, especially when storytelling, but please take a sec and read on, there is a point and purpose.

The other day, I’m working in the front garden, fallout from living in Covid purgatory hell, when a man comes up the walkway. My temper starts to rise as I await the inevitable, “Want your windows cleaned, or weeds killed, maybe gutters emptied?” 

Surprisingly, it wasn’t the case, he politely comments on our house and asks if I have a minute, he had a question or two about design, colours etc. “Sure,’ I said, this being a common occurrence at our place. “Happy to.”

The conversation is not relevant to the story, save for the gentleman’s last comment. At the end, he steps back, spreads his arms to encompass the whole property, and says, “Wow, you must have done something right.”

An innocuous 10 minutes, common in every way except for that last statement. It stuck with me; I couldn’t shake it. Like a tune you can’t stop humming. ‘Wow, you must have done something right,’ over and over.

I kept dwelling on it, I knew something important was there, but I couldn’t quite grasp it.

Of course, he was referring to the house itself, but this is far more than just a house. It’s a singularity in which all things revolve, with infinite gravity that draws all to it.

It’s a tree, which supports our family, growing up, growing old, laughing, crying, homework, parties, pets, rinks, smiles, tears, and fears, all here. Perhaps a bit dramatic…yes, but I want to supply context, or better yet, the magnitude of ‘Wow, you must have done something right’. 

The question itself, beyond easy. It took me a nanosecond to have the answer.

The ‘something right’ was convincing Joanne, some 25-plus years ago to become a partner for life. Best friends…yeah, but that’s a bit cliché. Companion…absolutely, but in every sense of the word, a true-life partner.

By agreeing to bet on me, which I have to say was far from a sure thing, she made all things possible.

Without her, none of this would have happened. No home, no family, no ‘Wow’. She is a master of putting life’s puzzle pieces together, then holding them fast with passion, energy, and love.

She was and is the ‘something right’!

So, when somebody says, “Wow, you must have done something right.” 

“Damn straight,” I say, because I have done at least one thing absolutely right.

Happy Birthday JO

Love always. 

Steve