Happy Birthday!

We were a young, engaged couple at BYU, living in neighboring apartment complexes. We had already pooled our money to make it stretch a bit further and had been out grocery shopping together.

One of the perks of being a young, broke couple at BYU was that we had ample opportunity to ride the UTA buses all over the Orem/Provo area. (Much to the worry of our parents, we not only were unemployed, we had no car)

On this particular bus ride, we lugged our groceries from Food4Less back to our respective apartments. Hobbling off the bus, we waited for the light to change so we could cross.

Darling Hubby carried the bulk of the groceries because he is just that kind of guy. For some reason, we were either moving slowly or the light was timed fast because suddenly we got the “Flashing Hand” warning us our crossing time was nearing an end.

I picked up speed and was nearly across the street when I heard a crash – not from a car, but from the groceries Hubby had been carrying. As I turned to look, I realized that Hubby’s bag had ripped and ALL its contents landed smack in the middle of the crosswalk. Frozen burritos, Ramen Noodles, jelly, pickles, etc… EVERYWHERE!

Now, because I was the thoughtful, kind fiancé everyone should be, I didn’t just want to leave him hanging… so I did what any sympathetic companion would do (insert appropriate sarcasm). I quickly finished crossing the street, turned around and laughed at Hubby. But, lest you think I didn’t help him, I did. I kept telling him to hurry because the light was changing. Of course, I had to keep laughing because, well, who wouldn’t?

As I lovingly waved him across, telling him to pick up the ketchup and put the canned fruit in the other already-bulging bags, watching as he fretted over the falling groceries, the light changed. Hubby helplessly stood in the middle of the crosswalk, blocking two lanes of impatient drivers, stuck in their track by college food. He couldn’t bear to leave the food behind because we had spent a whopping $30 on the food, and it had to last a while.

Eventually, and it really seemed like forever, Hubby made it safely across. Only losing one jar of jelly, if I remember correctly. I never did go out and help him pick up the food. I just laughed. But, because Hubby is who he is, he laughed too (years later, that is)

And you know what? He still married me. Can you believe it? I would have been so mad if the roles were reversed. But that is just the kind of person Hubby is. He didn’t hold it against me that I just stood on the corner and laughed at his predicament.

So, today is Hubby’s birthday! And I think, after 16 years, I am finally ready to say… as my gift to him, “I will never leave you standing in the middle of the street with groceries all over the ground again!”

I love you sweetie!! Thanks for marrying me anyway! Happy Birthday! I hope you have a wonderful day!

Here's a couple snapshots of Hubby with each of our children at various times in their lives. I love these because it reminds me what a loving father he is to our children...