8/15/03
Today is Deb's birthday.
In my role as Deb's husband, it's my responsibility to make sure that she has a satisfactory birthday experience. The satisfactory birthday experience seems to entail gifts, a tiny bit of singing and a yellow cake with white frosting.
I try to keep things fresh by varying the components over the years. I've done chocolate cakes, sheet cakes, decorated cakes and plain cakes. I've given her everything from socks to a hot air balloon ride. I've even tried to change up the song every now and again (. . . you look like a monkey, . . .they say it's your birthday, etc.). But I'm not actually sure if my wife has been enjoying the birthdays she gets from me.
Of course she always seems very grateful and is very generous with praise for my efforts. But I'm never quite sure if she wishes for something more.
Maybe this year I'll quietly placed a comment card in front of her after she's eaten her cake. Something like:
How would you rate our service (1=Poor, 5=Outstanding)?
1. Politeness of your server: 1 2 3 4 5
2. Promptness of your service: 1 2 3 4 5
3. Thoughtfulness of your gift: 1 2 3 4 5
4. Quality of your gift: 1 2 3 4 5
5. Song quality: 1 2 3 4 5
6. Decorations: 1 2 3 4 5
7. Cake: 1 2 3 4 5
8. Expressions of appreciation and happiness that you were born: 1 2 3 4 5
9: Surprise elements: 1 2 3 4 5
10: Personal contentment: 1 2 3 4 5
Of course I'm the only one on the planet that could take the topic of someone else's birthday and turn it into an issue about me. However I really do want to make sure Deb is having a good time. I want her to be happy that she chose me to take care of these matters for her.
I want her to have a happy birthday.
I love her.
Who knows, maybe I actually will have Deb perform a post-birthday evaluation. I'll let you know how things go. In the meantime, if you've got a moment, drop Deb a line and just say, "Happy birthday, Debbie. Hope Greg gives you a good one."
A good birthday, that is. . .