...OH BUT YES HE DID.
One evening last week, Hubs and I were sitting at a kids' school event. He leaned over and asked me about my day; I rattled on and on about a new deadline and oh-I-got-a-phone-call-from-so-and-so and did-you-remember-to-mail-that check, et cetera, et cetera.
He listened politely. When I finished, he asked, "Would you like to know what I did today?"
I nodded, distracted, watching the kids.
He continued. "I bought two Barry Manilow concert tickets in Las Vegas, tenth row center."
I'm sorry, what did you just say?
"I said, I bought two Barry Manilow concert tickets in Las Vegas, tenth row center. And two plane tickets, and a hotel room on the strip, and childcare is all arranged. We leave in a few weeks."
And I giggled squealed screamed and planted a big, sloppy kiss on him RIGHT THERE in the school cafeteria. Then I turned to Melanie, who was on my other side, and nearly scared her to death by grabbing her shoulders and shaking her and babbling incoherently. I am happy to report that I did not plant a big, sloppy kiss on her. But I could've. I'm that excited.
Seriously, after 15 years with my man, I thought he couldn't surprise me anymore. I thought I could read him so well that I would know he was up to something. The fact is that he's had this brewing and planned for a very long time, and I had no idea. How amazing is it that he would not only surprise me, but he would surprise me with something that I've wanted to do forever. And that he will not only send me to the concert, but he will sit through it with me. My husband, whose idea of good music is...well, whatever the opposite of Barry Manilow is. That is love, right there.
(And I know, it's nobody's business, but the sensible girl in me feels the need to explain that we have not gone out of our normally frugal minds by taking a trip like this while the economy is tanking. Thanks to frequent flyer miles, a great Priceline deal, and some money Hubs' had been setting aside for some time without my knowledge--the turkey! how did he do that?--the whole thing is actually pretty unfrivolous. So don't worry, I'm still sensible and frugal, I'm just going to be sensible and frugal IN LAS VEGAS.)
(Although the thought does suddenly occur to me that perhaps no one will be travelling so that they can stay home and watch the stock ticker, which means, I suppose, that we might have Las Vegas all to ourselves. If the audience is empty at the concert, do you think Barry might pull me up on stage for a duet? I did make up a dance routine to Copa Cabana when I was about 10, and I'm pretty sure I remember most of it.)
Anyway, I now have a couple of weeks to get ready for this trip. Tell me, if you've been to Vegas, what do I need to know? Because I have to say I'm feeling the urge to get a bee-hive hairdo and some sequiny pants. What else should I do? What should we absolutely NOT miss, considering our time is pretty limited?
While you think about it, you can watch this. It's not as snazzy as the one I made up 26 years ago, but it will have to do:
