The dirty dishes are still on the table.Stealing a moment to write is the only way I can get it done, so now, after dinner, while people are busy digesting their food, I'll steal this moment to write about Bo's birthday dinner.
My husband, Bo, is my very best friend in all of this world. I don't know how God chose to bless me with such a wonderful man, but He did. I don't know how God chose to challenge Bo with a woman like me, but He did.
I have known Bo for twenty-two of his thirty-nine years. We've been married for sixteen of those years. I keep waiting for the day when he realizes what a mistake he made when he married me. I keep expecting him to look at me one day, with his head cocked inquiringly to one side, and say, "Wait a minute. Is *this* the kind of person you *really* are? How could I have been so blind?" (or "bling," if I hadn't corrected my typo).
But he hasn't. He has stood by me, stuck up for me, encouraged me, taught me, corrected me, advised me, listened to me whine, celebrated with me, argued with me, made up with me, cared for me, sought me out, desired me, and loved me. I can't, truly, imagine life without him.
So, today, for his birthday, I do one of the things I actually know how to do somewhat well. I cooked for him. And he helped!
He had requested barbecued chicken, asparagus, cheesy potatoes and cheesecake. I added a bit of pasta with alfredo sauce. And while we were out on Saturday morning, he picked up a salmon steak and a tuna steak to throw on the grill, too.
After church, we started the grill and put the chicken on to cook. This recipe takes about two and a half hours, beginning with a spice rub and ending with a homemade Memphis-style barbecue sauce, with apple-juice basting in-between.
I wanted to take a photo of the dinner once it was on the cloth-covered table, but I didn't because I was too lazy to go downstairs and get the camera. After the meal was all over, I wish I'd have taken the time so that I could take an "after" picture. The white tablecloth was smeared with barbecue-sauce, bones lying about, delightfully dirty dishes scattered here and there. It's the dirty dishes that remind us how much our food is appreciated.
So, now, while the dishes await, I wallow in the afterglow of a fine family meal and begin to plan tomorrow's piece de resistance...the Milk Chocolate Cheesecake with Oreo Crust and Fresh Strawberries.
Happy Birthday, my dear man. I love you more than my earthly soul can express.
