We’re not actually in Italy; we’re in Las Vegas’ version of a sidewalk cafe in Italy. We coordinated Ken’s shirt to match the cafe logo. Sure. If you know my husband, you know how so not believable that would be for Ken. My daughters threaten to report him to the fashion police. Fortunately, the man wears scrubs to work. That prevents him from committing grave fashion errors at least Monday through Friday.

If Ken knew how to get to my blog, he’d be able to read this post. Unless ESPN or the MSN weather channel now links here, I doubt if that will happen.

Sadly, I have missed being home for the actual date of our anniversary for the past four years. The AP Language Reading schedule means I’m in Daytona, and he’s not. And, no, he can’t be here because we live too far away for him to drive, he can’t be away from the hospital that many consecutive days, and there’s only so many days a man who’s not crazy about the beach can play golf.

What I treasure about Ken:

1. He knows how to make me laugh even when I’m grumpy and frumpy.
2. He brings me coffee in bed. Fresh coffee. Which means he probably had to clean the whole contraption before making it because I’m certain I didn’t the night before.
3. He and I share a neurotic fear of roller coasters.
4. He married me.
5. He tells me I’m beautiful in a way that makes me believe him.
6. He surprised me with a laptop years ago because he believed I could be a writer even when I didn’t.
7. He manages our finances, and after being a single mom, I’m grateful to have him do it.
8. He cooks; he cleans; he washes. Not always, but often enough to relieve me of some of the burden.
9. He’s not as crazy-in-love with grocery shopping as I am, but he can be fun in the grocery.
10. He listens to my school stories.
11. He’s not been a perfect stepfather, but he’s not been an unperfect one either. Dynamics are complicated, but he stretches himself.
12. He’s not afraid to make decisions. The process of getting to the decision might be interminable, but once he’s there…he’s rooted.
13. He’s not afraid to say he was wrong if #12 didn’t turn out the way he expected.
14. He’s goal-oriented in a way that humbles me. For years, he worked six to seven days a week so that we could own our home. After Katrina, he spent months driving hundreds of miles each week to work, boomeranging from city to city so that we could maintain our financial obligations.
15. He’s generous. When I write, I mean full-on, butt strapped to the chair write, he takes care of meals, cleans the kitchen, washes clothes, fields my phone calls, and essentially makes himself invisible so I can focus.

Happy 17th Anniversary   and    Happy Father’s Day