I was beside myself trying to figure out what I would do for my wife, on our 23rd wedding anniversary. What would be unique? How should, or could I let her know how much she meant to me. It has to be something different, something out of the norm, something totally unexpected. She is my world, my everything, but how do you let someone know that? Well, my brother in law John came over, and I asked John, "What can I do for her"?, and he said "What were you planning to do"? "Well", I said, "I was going to take her to a really nice Italian restaurant, and have some fine wine and a wonderful Italian dinner, and hire a Italian guy, to play the mandolin, while singing "This is the Night" that was in the movie Lady and the Tramp, how does that sound"? John smiled, and said, "Well that sounds great, I'm sure that she would love it, especially coming from you, it is the thought that counts. So when do you plan on doing all of this"? "This coming Saturday is our Anniversary, and I am going to make reservations, and have everything ready, I have to go shopping, because I want to get her some flowers, and a couple of nice gifts to show her how I feel".
Well, the plans were set, the arrangements had been made, and all was ready to go. When Christine got home that evening, it was on a Thursday prior to our anniversary, and I had greeted her like I normally did when she got home, fresh coffee in hand for her, and met her on the porch so that we could set in the swing, to talk about our day. Well, I had asked her what she had planned for Saturday, and she said she thought she had to work. "Work??" I exclaimed, "Yes, I have to work", and she reached in her purse for her schedule, and said "Yep, I have to work, why?"
"Oh...nothing" I said...."I was just wondering, is there anyway you can switch with someone"?. I was in a panic mode, "No she said, we are short handed as it is and I am the Assistant Manager, I have to be there when someone doesn't show up". I was beside myself, what am I going to do? I called John and said "SHE HAS TO WORK ON SATURDAY"!!! and he said that he was coming over, and we can talk about it, and see if we can some up with something that I could do for her, on Saturday. She worked retail, so her schedule was based on who would show up, and who wouldn't.
Well, John came over, and he had a terrific idea, he says that he would ask Phyllis, (Christine's Manager) if we could do something there. Well, what we cooked up was nothing short of a miracle. When Saturday rolled around, I ordered full blown dinners from Olive Garden, and packed up my truck, with our best china, and we, John and I headed for her work. Now you must understand, everybody in the store, (all of the employees) knew about our plan, and they all wanted to help. So, here is what happened. I picked up the food, and while I was doing that, the employees at Ross cleared the stockroom, and set up a table for Christine and I, and put fine linen on the table, complete with candles and music. You can get anything at Ross. So, I came with the food, and all was set. Now what I failed to mention, I was dressed in a full blown "Tux". Once everything was set, Christine's employee had gone to get Christine, and told here that there was a problem in the Stockroom, so she said she would be back there in a minute, so we waited.
Now, try to imagine that I am standing in the middle of this huge stockroom, with a beautiful table that was fit for a king, two dozen red roses, and the food that I picked up, piping hot, was already on the fine china, with our best silver, and soft music was playing, candles were lit, and there were gifts for her all around the table. She walked in, and saw that the lights were out, and I could hear her ask what was going on, and when they rounded the corner, the first thing she saw, was me, standing there in a Tux, (it was 115 outside, we live in Arizona), but there I stood, holding a single rose, with the music playing, and she started crying. She could not believe that we had gone through all this trouble, just to celebrate our wedding anniversary. She was in shock. I have her manager to thank for the use of the stockroom, and all of her employees for keeping it a secret, they did allot for me.
We did have our anniversary dinner, and it was very private, and very discrete, and intimate. No one disturbed us, the PA was turned off in the stockroom not to ruin the moment, and not a soul came in there to disrupt us. We had a wonderful dinner, we drank sparkling punch, out of champaign glasses, (we couldn't drink wine or champaign at her work), and we had our precious moments alone. This woman I would do anything for, and I loved doing this. She was very emotional, and couldn't believe that we went through all the "trouble" (which was no trouble at all), but she was amazed, and still talks about it to this day.....
So guys, just a word to you, there is no excuse not to remember and celebrate your anniversary, it is well worth it to see the love and expression to the surprise on her face...something she will never forget......Have fun with it, and by all means, be creative.
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