Where All the Women are Strong, the Men are Good-looking, and the Children are Above Average

Alright ladies, prepare to be jealous... Also, expect a little cheesiness and a few awwwwwsss.... Fellas, you're going to have to step it up if your significant other reads this post.

Last night, I once again remembered that I have the most wonderful husband in the world. Let me just preface this entire post with the statement that Brian is quite possibly the best gift-giver on the planet, at least for me. He has always wow-ed me with his thoughtfulness and unique ability to know exactly what would be a terrific gift for me even when I myself didn't know I needed or wanted the said gift. That being said, Brian is a terrific special occasion gift-giver. He's not really a bring you home flowers just because sort of guy (he's allergic to them for starters so it wouldn't really work out that well), nor has he ever surprised me with a weekend getaway. But I can always count on the biggies - Birthdays, Anniversaries, Christmases, etc. - having spectacular gifts to mark the occasion.

For instance when we were yet young 'uns, in fact even before we were engaged, Brian decided one day was not enough to celebrate my birthday, so he gave me an entire weekend, disbursing gifts on each day. After our whirlwind romance, we were married by the next birthday and he decided that a weekend wasn't enough for his "bride" and gave me an entire week. It was that year - 1999 - that The Seven Days of Cherie were born and he's consistently continued to bless me with this celebration every year. Yep, that's right I get a gift every day the entire week leading up to my birthday - some are small, some are large, some are silly, some are significant, all are given with love. Eat your hearts out ladies.

*** side note - one of my favorite gifts of all time during TSDOC was a package of three small matchbox cars. I had longed for the little automobiles for months, stating that it would be so much fun to let them fly down the railing of our apartment building - the space was perfect for racing. And seeing my dream come true, letting them fly down the railing and crash into the wall was FANTASTIC!

Ok, so I digress... this year's anniversary present was tickets to see Garrison Kellior @ the Indiana State Fair. I have been A Prairie Home Companion Fan since early college, always hoping I could catch a NPR station on the five hour drive home from Wilmore and hear the Old Time Styled radio-show with biting wit and good music. Anyway, a few times I had checked into seeing PHC but didn't want to fork over the money for tix so I had put that little dream on the backshelf (I am cheap when it comes to such things). So I was thrilled to open the envelope with the tickets!

The show was fantastic... I could do an entire post on it. But I must say the best part was sitting with my beloved in the absolutely perfect summer evening, listening to an unbelievable guitar duet, glancing occasionally at the midway lights and then closing my eyes, feeling the slight breeze on my face and knowing there was no other place I wanted to be, no other person I wanted sitting next to me. We ate fair food, held hands, and wandered around the fair on what seemed to be the most perfect Indiana night imaginable. It was one of those evenings where you don't want to breathe because it's just so perfect. I am indeed blessed.

So that's the news here from Lake Lowebegone this week...