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Thursday, June 3, 2010

Blue Moon

Today is Dan-the-Man's 48th birthday. I have been married to this dude for 25 years. In fact, we got married one month (to the day) before his 23rd birthday. As we celebrate Dan's birthday today, I can't help but remember his first birthday as a married man. Take a walk down memory lane with me (but here's your warning: you might regret the walk!)...

We were poor. I mean REALLY poor. Like I said, we had only been married for a month and we didn't have enough money for me to even buy him a gift. So, I thought and thought about what I could do for him that might be fun that didn't cost anything. I decided that I would surprise him by cooking a roast beef dinner (which I saved for the whole first month of our marriage). I knew he would like that. But what else could I do to make it memorable? I thought (thought is the operative word here) I came up with a great plan. Let me explain.

At the time we were living in a little, tiny, roach infested apartment in Willow, CA with no air conditioning. It was June and temperatures ranged from 100 to 110 degrees almost every day in the summer. This detail will come into play later in the story. Dan was selling books door-to-door. He left our apartment each morning around 10 am and sometimes came home around 3 and sometimes not until 8 or 9 at night, depending on how successful he was at selling that day. I had no idea what time to expect him, so I thought I needed to be prepared no matter what time he came home.

I had decided to act like it was just any other day before he left for work so that he would think I had totally forgotten his birthday. I thought that would make my little surprise dinner even more fun. I also thought my other surprise was going to be kind of fun. My plan was to write "Happy" on one of my butt cheeks and "Birthday" on the other, and then moon him when he walked in the door. I decided to do it in blue marker so that he would get a "blue moon." At about 2:30 pm I got all ready and wrote my message using the mirror in the bathroom. Let me tell you, it is not easy to write on your own tushie while looking backward in a mirror that is over the sink! I was perched on the toilet turned sort of sideways so I could see my bare bum in the mirror while trying to balance myself so I wouldn't fall off the throne while writing my message. I finally got it done, pulled up the old underwear and jeans, and went about my day. Remember, it was stinkin' HOT in that apartment. And, when temperatures are over 100 degrees, you sweat A LOT! This might be where you begin to regret reading this story. If you are still reading, the rest of the story continues below...

Finally, around 6 pm I heard Dan's car pull into the driveway. I was excited! I hurried and got in my moon position by the door so I would be front and center when he walked in. Surprise him I did...but maybe not quite like I had envisioned. The blue marker had smeared all over my underwear AND my butt with the hot temperatures (have I totally grossed you out yet?). You couldn't read it at all AND I had ruined a perfectly good pair of underwear.

Dan walked in and saw my blue moon and began laughing. He asked, "What the heck? Why are you mooning me, and WHY is your butt BLUE?" He did get another good laugh out of it when I explained what it was supposed to have said. He loved the dinner (which we ate sitting on the kitchen floor with a suitcase as our table since we had no furniture) and we laughed about that blue moon the rest of the night.

Every year on Dan's birthday one of us brings up that memory. Dan says it might be the best birthday present he ever got. HA!

Love you, Dan-O! Happy Birthday.

22 comments:

Alanna said...

What a seriously funny story and one I'm sure will be passed down to many generations.

sandyh50 said...

I laughed at your story and thought about how you could scrapbook that memory! LOL

Rick and Kori said...

I have never heard that story! I love it! Kinda weird to hear of your mom mooning your dad but funny and sweet (i guess) all the same :) Happy Birthday dad!

Amy Pitts said...

ROFL!! This is halarious I think you need to scrapbook this one. It will be a great lesson in a scrapbook page without photo's. Wait there are no photo's right?

cnelson said...

Happy B-day to your Dan! Oh my heck, your story is priceless! Don't you just love those early married days of poverty...haha! It certainly brings out the creativity...haha!

Unknown said...

Don't worry, everyone. There are no photos. :)

Amy said...

Karen, I am laughing so hard right now. What a cute story and seriously I believe it's the little things like that when we are so poor and humble that are the best most precious memories, blue butt and all!! Sure do love ya girl, happy day to Dan the Man!

Nicole Norris said...

That is hilarious!!! What a completely different side of you. (no pun intended) I would never have pictured you doing something like that.

Monique Jensen said...

I was laughing so hard I cried and my sides started hurting. You made my day! Thanks Karen!

Kathi Carlson said...

Wonderful story/memory, Karen! Funny, too, which only made it more special. You're just lucky he didn't bring anyone home with him. LOL. Thanks for sharing!

amcgrew said...

What an AWESOME story,Karen! I had to read it to Stan. We are still laughing!!!!! You are so very fun!!!!

SMiles,
Amy

Leslie said...

Too funny, I can't stop laughing and can barely see the key board for the tears in my eyes. Tell Dan your bloggin' buddies wish him a happy birthday.

Dana Rae Bennett said...

Karen- what a funny story! It was so fun to hear the humerous side of you. I kept waiting to read that you gave him a blue moon for his 48th birthday too! Happy Birthday to your Dan. I hope it was great.

Laurel said...

Bahaha, great story Karen!

Anonymous said...

That is so awesome! Karen its obvious why your family loves you so much its totally your spunkiness!

Tresa Black said...

I was laughing half way through the story, couldn't wait to get to the end, but it was hard with tears in my eyes. Wishing Dan a very happy birthday!

Sharli Schaitberger said...

Oh Karen! The things we do when we're young and broke! I love your story - and I am so glad I stayed with you! I can't imagine how blue your pants were! I'm glad it has a happy ending. ;-) (pun not intended!)

Tracey Mason's Studio said...

OMG! Reconfirms our "twin-ness". Seriously funny!

T. Kaiser said...

I can't wait to see the scrapbook page of that event.

Oma said...

That story is hilarious! Hubby's nickname is Mooner as he mooned the high school principal when his basketball team won the city championship way back in the 60's. A lot of his friends still call him mooner. I am passing my nickname of Mrs. Moon on to you.

Melissa Laverty said...

Lady, you are hysterical! I'm guessing you didn't tell that story during the Mrs. Utah pagent!?! You sure do have quite a lot of tricks up your sleeve...which is probably why you and Dan are so stinkin' cute in love!!!!

Sheila Wilkerson said...

You got courage, girl.
;-)

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