26 years and counting!

Two days ago, my wife the ultimate facilitator of happiness, and I celebrated our 26th wedding anniversary. It was an eventful day that began with an all you can eat breakfast at IHOP. Why is IHOP always busy? We went around 9 or 9:30am and it was still crowded. I ate as many pancakes as a man who has been married for 26 years could possibly eat. I was sick for the next 6 hours getting over my sugar high. We had planned to then have a romantic dinner at Texas Roadhouse (I know how romantic could Texas Roadhouse be?), but it's good food, especially the rolls. Anyway, we were both still extremely full from IHOP and decided to eat some lighter mexican food at our favorite restaurant Gecko Grill. While there Pam handed me a piece of paper with the following handwritten notes. It read, "Reasons I Love Jeff". Here's what she wrote.
1. So good with people
2. Best dad imaginable
3. Loves me
4. Listens to me
5. Knows how to fix things and can fix anything
6. Always tells good things about me to people
7. Doesn't care if I cook dinners
8. So easy going about house, food, clothes
9. Doesn't spend money
10. Wears whatever and doesn't care
11. Doesn't like to shop and spend money on clothes
12. Good hair
13. Still cute
14. Funny
15. Likes sports
16. Is a true 100% man's man
17. Likes to fish
18. Like boats
19. Works as hard as he can
20. He brings me stuff when I need it
21. Lets me read in bed with the light on
22. Went on a mission
23. Is so knowledgable about the gospel
24. Love his parent and family
25. Is true blue loyal to me
26. Never has given me any reason to ever be jealous

So, there is the list she handed me over chips and salsa. Needless to say, the pressure was on. I had nothing prepared for her. So, being a quick thinker I asked her for a piece of notebook paper and wrote the following; Reason I love Pam.
1. She's shy
2. Best mom ever to grace the face of the earth
3. Loves me and puts up with me
4. Lets me listen to my own voice
5. Expects me to know everything
6. Loyal to a fault
7. Buys me fruit and almonds
8. Doesn't spend money or if she does she returns things
9. Doesn't care what I wear
10. Worries about my hair
11. She's beautiful (this was a smart one)
12. Starting to act like me towards other people.....funny
13. 110% real woman now that she has an estrogen pellet shot into her hip
14. Puts her used QT drinks on the bedstead
15. Reads all the time with the light on in bed
16. Our son is on a mission because of her
17. Reads the Book of Mormon everyday, mostly at night with the light on
18. Loves my family even though we all have A.S.S.
19. Has only given me 2 times to ever be jealous and they were not her fault. People stop her and say she looks like Goldie Hawn or Barbara Mandrell.

So, if I do say so myself, I came up with my smart list very quickly and save my bacon. Oh, I shouldn't have mentioned bacon because it still makes me sick just to thing about the all you can eat breakfast we had at IHOP. For our anniversary presents we got new wedding bands. It appears that gold is out and fat silver or platinum wedding rings are in. Funny, but isn't gold at an all time high right now? I also bought her a real crutch to use for her ailing knee and a gel bicycle seat which she won't be able to use until her knee heals. She got me a new pair of brown shoes that she likes and knows I'll wear because I don't care what I look like.

So, there it is, a recap of our 26th wedding anniversary. I still remember the night of October 14th, 1982 when I was staying at Lance and Candy's house the day before our temple sealing. Pam had insisted that I write down my feelings about getting married. As I was doing so, a wise man walked into the room. His name happened to be Howard Arnett. He just sat down in a chair and didn't say a word. Finally, after some time had past, I asked him if he needed anything. He said no and just continued to sit next to me. I said, "Dad, did you want to talk or something." He said, "well I thought I might give you some advice". I then prepared myself for some incredible words of wisdom from the man I admired most. I expected a "sermon" of sorts about the intricacies of marriage, and the nuances of human interaction between a man and a woman who enter into the sacred bonds of holy matrimony. I gave him all my attention. I was a little nervous about the next day and needed some reassurance. In, Howard like fashion, he looked at me and then uttered these most profound words, "If you want a happy life, you better have a happy wife". We both chuckled and he got up and walked out of the room. 26 years later I have never forgotten that advice. What's even better is that my wife is truly the facilitator of my happiness.
I love you Pammie. How you made it this far with me I'll never know.