It’s my younger wife’s 67th birthday today and she wanted a palm to replace the “nasty Florida oak” out behind our lanai. It was just not tropical enough for her tastes. I had that done while we were in Egypt. This morning I added a wrapped present under the tree, a camel Limoges box to add to her porcelain collection. She actually enjoyed riding her camel with the pyramids in the background and tried to get me to relax by leaning over to kiss me. I, of course, had a death grip on the saddle. It was a memorable experience for both of us. 

The trip and built-in dining cupboards were having installed this week took another serious drain on our dwindling retirement savings. I half-jokingly offered to take her to Freddy’s, her favorite fast food restaurant for dinner and instead settled on Owen’s Fish Camp in Sarasota to celebrate the occasion. Many of the area restaurants are closed on Mondays, so this posed another challenge in making this decision, undoubtedly considered cheap on my part by those of you reading this post. 

As it turns out, she then arranged an early dinner later next week with friends at this particular restaurant, so we agreed to change to our seafood standby, Dockside, for her birthday dinner. My wife tends to change her mind frequently when it comes to dining and therefore further compromised by finally settling on buying a couple of lobsters and grilling them herself. DIY – Do it Yourself – tails for her and her “cheap” husband. I don’t mind being called that since she usually gets what she wants regardless of my constant pleas to save money. 

We went to Tahiti for her 60th, including some pearls, and hope to do something special for her 70th. Does that sound cheap? We also added-on London and Stonehenge to our Egyptian cruise last month and went to three London musicals, including SIX, so she cruises to her tap classes in her Lexus convertible singing along with the CDs. Also, many magnet purchases (now that’s a cheap souvineer) from Egypt, Jordan, and England moved her total over 225, decorating our garage refrigerator. She has a great tan from living here in the resort community and looks youthful for her age. I’m not feeling sorry for her – just love. I tried to express this in a poem:

6T7

Happy 6T7,                                                                                         My Babe in Arms.                                                                       With A Florida tan,                                                                      And womanly charms. 

After built-ins and Egypt,                                                         We’ve emptied the tank.                                                          There’s only love,                                                                           Left in the bank. 

No fancy pearls,                                                                                From this old gramp.                                                                    DIY Lobster Tails,                                                                      Instead of Fish Camp. 

You could have had,                                                                          A Freddy’s treat.                                                                                    But with Father’s Day,                                                                        Too much red meat. 

Your kiss on a camel,                                                                Tried to keep me calm.                                                                   So I wrapped a memento,                                                            Under the BD palm.  

We added a cartouche,                                                                 To your gold chain.                                                                      And a SIX CD,                                                                                      So you can sing the refrain. 

There’s more magnets,                                                                    On the fridge.                                                                                    Like Abbey Road,                                                                          And the Tower Bridge.                               

We did our best,                                                                                To mark your 66th year.                                                          Now Let’s get ready,                                                                      For some 6T7 cheer! 

Here’s to loving you,                                                                            My adorable hottie.                                                              Wishing you fortune,                                                                 And Angels on your Body.

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