Happy 28th Birthday, Pat!

Yesterday Patrick turned 28! Can you believe it? That is almost 30! Where has the time gone? The funny thing is when I would talk to Pat about turning 28 he didn't want to talk about it because he was so upset about being that old. I guess this is about the time you start getting upset about getting older and you start lying about your age. I always wondered when that would happen.

I guess one reason for being upset about getting older is about not being where you imagine yourself at that age. I can tell you, when I was 8 and someone asked me where I would want to be in 20 years, I DEFINITELY did NOT say "living in a 450 sq/ft one bedroom apartment, working as a receptionist, and having no dog or kids."

However, it's all about how you look at it; my life is way better than I ever could have imagined.

Just because at the age of 28 I don't live in a two story house with a white picket fence, have a huge back yard with a mini farm house, a dog, and two little kiddies running around, doesn't mean my life isn't great. I wouldn't give up any of my past or current experiences in a million years, I just wish there was more time to experience all that life has to offer. I am of course speaking for myself, but I am sure Pat feels the same way.

There is no way that we give up any our single-dating years to learn what we truly wanted in a spouse and to appreciate that person when we found them. There is no way we would give up the 1 1/2 to 2 years of leaving everything behind to dedicate ourselves to helping and serving others and teaching them about Jesus Christ. A person learns so many invaluable lesson when he or she gives up all his wants and desires for every minute of the day for that duration of time. And there is no way we would give up the (almost) 4 years we have been married and have been able to enjoy life with our sole purpose and responsibility to make the other person happy. All these things are just what we needed for our ultimate happiness, now and in the years to come.

So I guess what I am saying is....Pat there is no shame in being 28 because every year was and is essential and precious in contributing to the extraordinary man you are today. And that is something to be proud of.

So when the day came to celebrate the birth of Patrick being born 28 years earlier, we were both quite excited. Pat was excited to get presents and I was excited to give them. Months prior to Pat's birthday he starts planning on what he was going to ask for and is continually changing his mind weeks and even days before the event. This makes it a bit difficult to get a present that he wants the most on the day of his birthday.


However, Patrick taught me a lesson over Christmas. According to Pat when you give gifts there has to be one big gift that is the ultimate surprise and want of the receiver. However, it is not enough to give one big gift, but you also have to give a few small gifts in addition to the big gift. I did not know these rules of gift giving before Christmas this past year, but I made sure to show Pat that I learned my lesson and learned it well, just in time for his birthday.

However, a week prior to his birthday Pat changed his mind on what he "really" wanted for his birthday. His new fixation is a bicycle. We even went to a bike store and checked them out and he found the one of his dreams. I didn't know what to say because I had already bought his gift, so all I said was "Let's discuss this after your birthday." This blew his mind and it was all he could think about. What gift could I have possibly gotten him that would call for that comment? He loved thinking about it and trying to get me to tell him what I got him. However, all I would do was smile.

Anyways, on Patrick's birthday we slept in a little longer than usual and went together to work. During the day, while Patrick was at work and totally oblivious, I carried home one of his enormous gifts through the streets of NYC and on the subway. It was a ridiculous site but one that must be done because I have to have all his gifts shipped to my work and I love my husband. So after lugging this huge awkward box home I set up the "presentation." I had it all planned: We would go out to dinner by his work and I would bring the two "supplemental" gifts with me and he would open them thinking that there were no more gifts. Him being a little disappointed (secretly of course) we would go home and there would be a the grand prize gift waiting for him. He would be so confused, because from what he knew there wouldn't have been time for me to wrap and put it out. This is what I had pictured in my head for the night. But that isn't what happened....

I called him up a few hours before we got off of work and asked him if he wanted to go to dinner near his work, and I could meet him. He didn't want to and was pretty adamant about just going home and relaxing and eating somewhere near home. Since it was his birthday, I couldn't put up much of a fight. So I went home as usual and I had a about 45 minutes until Pat's arrival. When Pat came home I played "Happy Birthday" music and danced around and lip synced the words to him. And boy, when he saw the presents that awaited him, he sure was excited. Of course we had to start with the smallest gifts first. I got him a pair of motorcycles goggles and a new motorcycle helmet (that we are most likely going to take back because he looks silly in it).



Then for the grand finale I got him new motorcycle pipes! Patrick has been wanting these pipes for years now to make his bike sound more manly and loud, and to also make it look cooler.


Since Pat is constantly changing his mind on what he wants, I thought this would be a pretty safe bet since it has been the consistent "want" throughout the years. However, the celebration didn't last long because he couldn't believe I got them for him because they cost more than what we usually spend on birthday gifts. And to increase his anxiety, I told him that I got these for him before his new fixation of wanting a bike started, so he could return these and get a bicycle. This is where the dilemma started...Was Pat going to keep the pipes, which have been his dream for years, or return them to get a new bicycle, which he really wants too!?!?! He doesn't really "need" new pipes, but he really really wants them. He already has bicycle, that is my dad's bike, but it is way too big for him and could potentially be dangerous. WHAT IS A MAN TO DO!!?!?!?

This caused Pat a lot of stress and continues to cause him stress. But he says it is the best kind of stress to have. Even though Pat has a very big decision to make, he said it was a great birthday. I am so glad that we both got to celebrate Patrick being born because it's definitely something that needs a celebration.

Happy Birthday Pat and I love you!