The Kathy Love-Hate Birthday Dilemma

Today my adorable wife Kathy turns 37 years old! So Happy Birthday Kath!!!

But I have to say, I both love and hate this time of year and let me tell you why.

Love it because for a little less than a month, I am a year younger than Kathy. Which I know secretly annoys her but thrills me. I turn 37 on January 14th so my rein of youngness doesn't last all that long. Gotta live it up while I can! Now if I could only find my sash that I can proudly wear for the next few weeks that says..."Look Everyone I Am Young Compared To Her!"

Hate it because as you can see by the calendar her birthday is a full six days before Christmas. That means double shopping and triple the pressure for me. You see I absolutely despise shopping and I am no good at it. I am quite certain she gets that exact same look my parents used to get when I gave them some useless piece of crap that they didn't need, nor want. You know the look....that smile that says oh great how nice but they are secretly thinking what in the hell were you thinking?

Love this time of year because....did I mention I am younger than my wife. Hee Hee. Today she's on the down slide towards forty and I am a technically by the letter of the birthday law a good four years away. Can you see me in your mind's eye doing my happy dance? Well buddy I'm dancing and trying hard to ignore that I too will be joining her on that slide in just a few short weeks.

Hate it because no matter what I do, I can't make her day nearly as special as she makes my birthday. Seriously she is like the Martha Stewart of birthdays when it comes to me and it just plain puts me to shame.

Love it because it is one of those days that both boys try, and let me emphasize try, to be good. My son Josh said to me last night as we wrapped her presents, "Daddy we will try not to punch each other too much since it's Mom's birthday okay?" Spoken like a true four and half year old that wakes up prepared for battle each day with his older brother. Could we be looking at a Harper truce? I wouldn't hold my breath!

Hate it because no matter how you slice it, another year has come and gone and when you get to be our age...they seem to go a lot faster.

Love it because for Kathy it means a brand new year ahead. With all the improvements she is striving to make I suspect that her 37th year on this planet is bound to be her best yet!

Hate it because it means that no matter what I do, a day simply isn't enough time to thank Kathy for all that she does for me and the boys.

Anyway thank you for indulging me in my Kathy love-hate birthday dilemma.

I know she is going to kill me when she reads this but what the heck. If she literally kills me I won't have to worry about joining her on that slide to forty which...did I mention, she is now on!

Happy Birthday Babe!

Ripple On!!!


Steve