Erratic sleep night. This happened because I was rather wired after staying up later than usual tending to some potential blog problems which turned out to be non-problems. But all of that kept me in front of the computer screen right before I went to bed, which was and is a no-no. I did finally sleep, so I’m hanging in there.
So, imagine my surprised delight when I stumbled down the stairs on my way to make coffee and glanced out the window of the kitchen door and saw this:
Whoo hoo! I finished filling the kettle, set it on the stove, grabbed my camera and was out the door in a flash. Or what stands in for a flash when you’re barely awake.
Oh, lordy, I love morning glories! Isn’t she a beauty?
And, not to be outdone, other plants in the Memorial Garden were calling for my attention:
The roses are blooming again.
Starting the day with a smile on my face is the perfect prescription for a restless night.
Goodness it’s hot here! Yesterday it ‘felt like’ 100 degrees. Today, more of the same. I was out running errands. Don, poor guy, was in Manhattan for several hours. When he got home, he headed straight for the shower. And yes! I cooked dinner for him! (You can pat me on the back now.)
Actually, I had a surprise up my sleeve yesterday. Don, being the most generous guy I have ever known, has always sacrificed for me; he always thinks of me first. When I needed my first laptop in 2008, he said I should use some money he had just earned to get it. When I needed another one in 2012, you guessed it, he insisted I use our money to get one, saying things like “You absolutely need it for your blog.” “This is your work, of course you must get one.”
And he took my old laptop, a white Macbook circa 2008, which in the land of tech, is positively ancient. It still has all my crap on it, plus some of his and it doesn’t work well. But he insists he can get by. He also drives our old 2001 Honda; insists on it, actually. (We just had some work done on it and it passed the annual inspection! Huzzah!)
He takes the used, giving me the new.
Recently, I’ve been having a few problems with my laptop (Do you see a pattern here? Every four years.) and I had discussed getting a new MacBook Pro with a 15 inch screen instead of the 13 inch screen I have now, which would make blogging much easier. Don’s response: “You should do it. I’ll take your old one – see if you can get it fixed and I’ll use it.”
But, why should my dear one use something that is fast getting past its prime? That I have used every day for years? Why should he always get ‘used’ – and in this case, really used? So, after much thought, I used the opportunity presented when he was away for the day and went to the Apple Store in Connecticut. With some of my inheritance, I bought him a new Macbook Pro. I came home and was riding high, so excited to surprise him with it! I wrapped it in the only paper we had, Paw Patrol wrapping paper, and wrote a message on a card and plopped it on the coffee table in front of his chair.
He deserves better, you see, and we rarely have the money to do that, but this time I did have some money and I wanted to do something for my sweetheart. After “What’s this? It’s not my birthday…why do you have a present for me?” he opened the card, got pretty emotional, then opened the box.
And he was stunned. He couldn’t believe it! He is so excited, which tells me that all his “I’m fine with a used laptop, I don’t really need it, I can get by” comments were just Don being Don, sacrificing his needs for the ones he deemed more urgent at the time – mine. I love that about him, of course, and I’ve done my share of it, too – that’s what happens in a partnership.
But, oh, what a joy to do this for him!. I cannot tell you how happy this makes me.
Now you see why I was wired, and why all the blog stuff, coupled with the surprise, kept me up late. It was hard to calm down!
One more picture:
A glorious morning, morning glory!
Happy Friday.
I am smiling right now! What a great surprise for Don and I know he loved the computer but your thinking of him was the best gift of course. The two of you have a marriage that makes me think good love does exist. So happy that the morning glory bloomed. It’s just a feel good happy day all around isn’t it!
hugs!!!
Good love does exist, Linda. I’m very fortunate that at the age of 41, Don turned up in my life. I never take it for granted!
It does make us happy to surprise our loved ones! Will he let you borrow it sometimes?☺
I don’t know, Doris! I think he should keep it all to himself!
What a great surprise Claudia! You did good! And you were rewarded with a morning glory bloom…..the universe was speaking to you! ;)
Oh, that morning glory bloom was manna from heaven, Donnamae.
What a wonderful gesture, getting Don a new laptop, you are both very good to each other, just beautiful.
This is my first morning glory flower I have seen, what an amazing colour!
Aren’t they gorgeous, Christina? This shade is called Heavenly Blue.
After writing that your blue morning glory was the first I have seen, I found today a big cluster of white ones along the canal where I walk the dog. I cannot believe that I have never noticed them before! Thanks for bringing these gorgeous flowers to my attention.
Lovely! I’m so glad you saw them!
Beautiful flowers, beautiful story…beautiful people. Thanks for the morning pick-me-up!
You are most welcome! I was just sitting in the living room, looking at Winston, Riley and Scout. Thank you!
Aww, that makes me happy all over again.
Thank you, Shanna!
What a lovely surprise for Don…as others have said, “you did good Claudia!!” Morning glories are glorious, aren’t they?
We are HHH (hazy, hot, humid) here too, but I think/hope it is supposed to break by tomorrow. Fingers and toes crossed.
Oh, I hope it’s going to break soon, Vera!
The love, friendship and kindness that you feel for each other provides a wonderful spark of goodness in this sometimes dark and confusing world. Blessings
Thank you, Lesley.
Thanks for the good vibes, Claudia. A lovely post, in every way.
You’re welcome, Nancy.
There ‘s always a reward when you apply random acts of kindness Claudia . What you did for Don was also laced with LOVE and the reward of seeing his response and the great generosity of your spirit, must have made your heart overflow with even MORE LOVE for him, it that were even possible.
I adore stories with these kinds of happy endings :)
Kindness, love = even more kindness and love. Thank you for your kind words, Elizabeth.
What a sweet thing to do for your precious fella! I know he will enjoy it. I just had Morning Glories bloom this week also. It’s been terrible hot here with the heat index over 100 all week. We had rain today and it’s suppose to cool off some. Sure hope so.
Have a great weekend.
Judy
So hot – I’m hoping we get some rain, my friend!
As you know I’m a purge fanatic- just cleared out about 100 old favorite magazines and design/craft books., and I love that feeling of less is more and making do. But there is something so thrilling about a new tech gift especially a needed/ wanted item that just makes the sunshine brighter and the world a little brighter. My folks tried to instill in me that waiting for something made the gift that much sweeter and this time you were the bearer of the special item and thus received a gift of joy also.
and oh how we love our macs :D
Oh, I’m purging too, Suzan! I have much more to do.
I’m so happy that he was surprised and delighted. It truly made my day, my week, my year!
What a wonderful surprise! I can imagine him grinning ear to ear.
hugs to you both
He did grin, after he got over his shock. He said, “It’s new??”
Morning glories are just smile provoking aren’t they? I’m so glad some of your flowers are blooming. Your gift to Don and your comments about how willing he is to put your needs first touched my heart. My advice to newlyweds is always the same. If each of you always put the others needs before your own you’ll be happy but it has to be both putting the other first. May sound a bit old fashioned but I truly believe it works. Thank’s for making me smile today
Your advice is the best and the truest, Janie. The balance changes, shifts back and forth, but the willingness to be there for each other and do everything we can to make the other happy is only way to go. Thank you, friend.
I love reading about your love, Claudia….for Don, for Scout, Riley and Winston, for your garden, every little and huge thing in your life. You are blessed with much “muchness”.
Oh, thank you, Wendy! I like ‘muchness! That’s a great word.
What a wonderful story!! “It’s NEW??” Priceless. I can surely understand why you couldn’t sleep!! Bet your parents were smiling, too!
Our MG’s are twins! Mine are the same wonderful color. Blooming 1 at a time. Crazy!!
Working out in the yard this morning, I think I felt the moment when the humidity broke. Now we are having a thundershower, but the sun is also peeking out. I am thinking there may be a rainbow in the very near future. Enjoy the remainder of your Friday!!
I think we have the humidity for one more day, Chris, then it’s back to sane temperature levels!
Don is a great “old man”! What a wonderful wife you are. Don’t normally see that in Trophy Wives. They are usually just young and pretty. Not young, pretty, kind and loving. Bless you both!
Ha! I’ll have to tell Don that I’m a trophy wife!
What a great thing to do for your lovey. And WHAT a thrill for Don! He doesn’t even know yet how much he’s going to love his present. If I ruled the world, everyone would get the chance, at least once in their lives, to have the thrill of a brand spanking-new MacBook. SO much fun. Smart to spend a little more for the larger screen too. If I’d known beforehand how often I’d be watching “TV” and movies on my Mac, I would have done the same thing. If he has an iPhone, iPod etc, he’s going to love it even more too. Happy Mac exploring, Don!
I got the 15 inch screen, Don has the 13 inch which will be fine for him. He’s very happy. We just got done setting it up.
The morning glories are blooming covering the arbor and cascading on the roof of my detached garage for a month here in No. Calif. It’s a reminder how different parts of our nation give us gifts at different times. Your posting about the gift to Don shows how “It’s Better To Give Than To Receive”. I admire him for recognizing your need for good equipment, bravo to him for that, but also that you recognize he doesn’t always have to be Second Hand Rose. Such a nice reminder to those reading your blog of what a true partnership is. To “try” and think of the other person first and put their needs before yours. The true gift in this story is not the computer, rather the gifts you give each other everyday.
Oh, thank you very much, Lyndia! That makes me smile.
I feel like Linda above..the two of you help me to believe that good love does exist in this self centered world…Thank you both for showing it to us…
Thank you for being there, Nancy.
Beautifulact of true love! I love a good surprise.
Me too!
Beautiful flower pictures, Claudia! And beautiful story of sweet surprise for Don and happiness for you in being able to do that for him. Beautiful and sweet! I have to add here that I too am blessed with a most kind, generous husband who always puts me first. He’s a “Don”!
Yay for Dons, Melanie!
I would love to cover our back fence with morning glories, that is, if my husband ever finishes rebuilding it. Second best are your pictures to keep me satisfied until then.
Well, I’ll give you plenty of pictures in the meantime, Jan!