I was in the kitchen packing my laptop in my computer bag getting ready to head out the door for work when my wife Linda, who usually didn't get up in time to see me before I left, entered the room with a big smile on her face and said, "Good morning, happy birthday honey, you don't look too bad for an old guy of 50."
"Gee thanks, I was half expecting that today would be the day you to tell me that I was too old and that you were trading me in for a younger model."
"No not yet, but we'll see how your holding up when you turn 60, that's always an option." She leaned into me and gave me a brief kiss, she then turned, opened a kitchen draw, took out an envelope and handed it to me. "Here's your present I hope you like it."
I took the envelope from her and examined both sides; on the front she had written "Happy Birthday Steve" and the back it read SWAK where she had licked the seal. As I began to tear it open I noticed that it was thicker then it would be if it just contained a card. Once it was free of the card I noticed that it held a few folded sheets of paper. The front of the card read "Happy 50th Birthday to My Wonderful Husband", I opened it and on a blank page she had written "If I had it to do all over again you would still be the one I'd choose, Love Always, Linda."
I looked up at her smiling face, moved in to give her a hug and whispered in her ear "I feel the same way; you'll always be the one for me."
She pushed me gently away and said "Good now look at the rest of it, that's the real present."
I put down the card and unfolded the papers that had been inside. The first sheet was an airline confirmation for a flight to Miami for two leaving this Saturday, the second was a car reservation for a Mustang convertible, and the third was a reservation at a very nice hotel down in Key West.
I looked up at my wife and I must have had a really dumb look on my face because she just looked at me and laughed, I said "is this serious?" Now you need to know my wife, this was very unlike her she is not extravagant at all, she is a wonderful friend and a great mother to our kids. She works hard and doesn't relax nearly enough. She is also a penny pincher and not one to blow a large amount of cash on a fun vacation.
"Yes dear this is serious, I got to thinking and it's time we began to enjoy ourselves. What better time then your 50th birthday? I called Bob and talked to him about it and he said they could manage without you next week ay the office.
"Wow." I said, "You are sneakier then I thought."
"Yeah, I'm still not as sneaky as you but I'm working on it." She said with a sly smile on her face. "Ah, there is one more thing."
Yup, I thought, here's the catch. "Oh and what might that be"?
"Well," she said "I had my annual physical a couple of weeks ago and while I was there I made an appointment for one for you, it's this afternoon at 5:30. Now that you've hit the big five-o you need to get yourself checked out, you also need to schedule a colonoscopy and get a prescription."
"Come on Linda, you know I hate doctors, besides I hear a colonoscopy is a real pain in the ass," I said with a smile, "and what do I need a prescription for? I feel fine."
"Very funny." She put serious look on her face reached out and took my hands and looked me right in the eyes. "Look Steve, I love you and I want you around for a long time and I want you to take care of yourself. A physical is no big deal and as far as the colonoscopy is concerned the worst part is the day before when you have to flush your body out. So suck it up and do it for me, okay?"
"All right I'll go; 5:30 today and I'll make an appointment for a colonoscopy. Happy?"
