Great things are not done by impulse, but a series of small things brought together.
~Vincent Van Gogh
It’s a year and a half ago, on my birthday, and Daisy hands me a box. It’s rectangle, about the size of a coffee table book.
I look at the box, pick it up, and measure it against possible matches in my head.
It can’t be what I think it is. That’s impossible.
I open the box.
GASP!
It’s beautiful.
I pet, then remove the gift from its shell. I place it in my lap.
“We have to return it,” I say.
My heart skips a beat as I speak. I can tell that Daisy’s has done the same.
“We can’t afford it.” I repeat the message in different words, just in case they had fallen out in the wrong order the first time.
Daisy looks at me, silent. I know that she wants me to be excited. I can feel her desire to see me jump up and down, and break into a garish smile. She wants to hear me shouting in glee.
“I have to return it.” My voice is almost a whisper.
Daisy then uses a word said less often between us than the word flabbergasted. ”No,” she says. ”You deserve this.” She takes my hand and places it on top of the gift.
I run my fingers across the lid and then I lift the screen. Twenty-six letters stare at me from three neat rows.
“We can’t afford it.”
“We can’t afford not to.”
This is my logic she is using. Flawed, of course, but I’m listening.
“Go on.”
“Your brain needs to be busy. This will take you anywhere you want to go. Please don’t fight me.” Her sentences are short. She doesn’t want to argue. Neither do I.
“Write a book, make a million,” she adds. She does not say this then with the certainty that she will nine months later, but the seed is planted. What she means in that moment is that I can do anything I want to and, dollar for dollar, she just handed me the finest tool in the world.
After a brief exchange where I was reminded whose retirement was cashed out (Daisy’s) to buy the house, and who decided how to spend every penny (Writer Dad), I conceded. It’s eighteen months later, and I am thrilled to report, Daisy was right.
If I paid two dollars every day from that day until now, the Macbook would be paid for. That’s less than a cup of coffee.
Today is our anniversary, a perfect time to acknowledge the amazing person who brought us all together.
Daisy and I have been married for seven years, holding hands for eleven. It’s a bit of time, but compared to my grandparents who were married for three quarters of a century, it’s really just the first few buds to bloom on the branches of a freshly planted tree.
In that full year plus a decade, Daisy has never doubted me. Whenever a crazy idea tumbles from my mind, her first question is always,
“What can we do to make it happen?”
Most recently, when I said that I thought it was time for us to write full time and take a machete to life’s jungle, she bought fifty spiral notebooks from Target at ten cents each and piled them around every room of our house. ”Don’t let your ideas get away,” she said, kissing me on the mouth. ”You’re brilliant.”
Pertinent facts – Writer Dad: 7th grade kind of cool, 8th grade really cool, 9th grade total nerd. Junior year, argument with guidance counselor. Academic files grow fuzzy after that.
Pertinent facts – Daisy: Master teacher with a specialty in early childhood education. Multiple recipient of the Teacher of the Year Award. Has taught on four continents and helped to design curriculum.
Daisy is my biggest cheerleader. She believes in me with a certainty that could only be described as spiritual. She is always downcast when she believes I’m bored, but I’ve never seen her happier. This is in large part because, with no less than 1,342 projects swallowing our horizon, my brain has never been this busy.
Thank you Daisy, for conversations that flow like a decade worth of running water. Thank you for being a tireless mother to our exhausting children.
Parenting well is often rewarding, usually fun, and rarely easy. Doing it with you is like dribbling a ball.
Our future has never been more pregnant and, as scary as it might be, there is no one on this Earth I’d rather hold hands with as we jump into the unknown.
Happy anniversary. I love you.
Writer Dad
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I hope you had a great anniversary!! And remember, you should always listen to your wife :)
Kool Aids last blog post..trifle
I hope you had a great anniversary!! And remember, you should always listen to your wife :)
Kool Aids last blog post..trifle
Hey Writer Dad and Daisy!
I’m sorry I missed it yesterday. Writer Dad you are truly a lucky man to have a partner that “has your back” the way Daisy does. Your only limit is your imagination.
Daisy, you didn’t do badly either.
T
ps – I am so damned jealous of the Macbook I could scream. I think I will…AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T Edwardss last blog post..Luck Favors The Prepared
Hey Writer Dad and Daisy!
I’m sorry I missed it yesterday. Writer Dad you are truly a lucky man to have a partner that “has your back” the way Daisy does. Your only limit is your imagination.
Daisy, you didn’t do badly either.
T
ps – I am so damned jealous of the Macbook I could scream. I think I will…AAAAAAHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
T Edwardss last blog post..Luck Favors The Prepared
Andy: It’s all about communication. If you keep the lines open, there shouldn’t be any problem you can’t solve.
Alex: Please get a Macbook. You will not be sorry. And if for some reason (that I cannot fathom) you miss windows, it will run faster on your new baby. And yes, we need our partners to encourage us the most. They are our biggest cheerleaders.
Brett: Ready, set, go.
Linda Abbit: Daisy is brilliant. Your husband is lucky.
Kool Aid: I did, thank you. 99% of the time, I do.
T Edwards: I do feel lucky, everyday. And thank you for saying only my imagination is my limit. I like to think so to. Two dollars a day. Start tomorrow.
Andy: It’s all about communication. If you keep the lines open, there shouldn’t be any problem you can’t solve.
Alex: Please get a Macbook. You will not be sorry. And if for some reason (that I cannot fathom) you miss windows, it will run faster on your new baby. And yes, we need our partners to encourage us the most. They are our biggest cheerleaders.
Brett: Ready, set, go.
Linda Abbit: Daisy is brilliant. Your husband is lucky.
Kool Aid: I did, thank you. 99% of the time, I do.
T Edwards: I do feel lucky, everyday. And thank you for saying only my imagination is my limit. I like to think so to. Two dollars a day. Start tomorrow.
Hi Writer Dad,
How beautiful. Your post explains what Daisy sees in you. She’s a special woman, a real keeper. With love like that, you’ll be holding hands for many, many years to come.
Happy Anniversary to the two of you!
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Your Audience – Hitting The Bulls Eye
Hi Writer Dad,
How beautiful. Your post explains what Daisy sees in you. She’s a special woman, a real keeper. With love like that, you’ll be holding hands for many, many years to come.
Happy Anniversary to the two of you!
Barbara Swaffords last blog post..Your Audience – Hitting The Bulls Eye
Barbara: Thank you so much. It was a really tremendous day.
Barbara: Thank you so much. It was a really tremendous day.
Great post. And I’m not even jelaous of the Mac.
Ok.
I am.
;D
Jo Beaufoixs last blog post..Sometimes parents are so dim
Great post. And I’m not even jelaous of the Mac.
Ok.
I am.
;D
Jo Beaufoixs last blog post..Sometimes parents are so dim
My wife bought me a macbook pro–super nice!–and although I love it, she uses it. She’s home more than I am, and it’s the best computer we have … by far. Also, she has the real writing talent, and I like to see her writing on it.
On a side note, a macbook pro is way overkill for someone who just writes. In fact, it’s pretty much overkill for anyone. IMHO.
However, it’s a beautiful machine, and that alone is inspiring. I’m hoping it inspires my wife to write a sweet book that makes us millions :)
My wife bought me a macbook pro–super nice!–and although I love it, she uses it. She’s home more than I am, and it’s the best computer we have … by far. Also, she has the real writing talent, and I like to see her writing on it.
On a side note, a macbook pro is way overkill for someone who just writes. In fact, it’s pretty much overkill for anyone. IMHO.
However, it’s a beautiful machine, and that alone is inspiring. I’m hoping it inspires my wife to write a sweet book that makes us millions :)
Jo: You don’t have to be jealous…. at least I’m sharing with all of you, right?
Ryan: Yes, the Macbook Pros are total overkill, unless you need to edit film or something. I’m happy with my standard Macbook, although I do think the Pros are awfully shiny.
Jo: You don’t have to be jealous…. at least I’m sharing with all of you, right?
Ryan: Yes, the Macbook Pros are total overkill, unless you need to edit film or something. I’m happy with my standard Macbook, although I do think the Pros are awfully shiny.
Wow what a wife. Amazing. Not only supportive, but surprised you with a new Mac. Well it sounds like you know how lucky you are, and it looks like you’re definitely using it well.
Michael
Michael@ Awareness * Connections last blog post..What Web 2.0 Says About Human Beings
Wow what a wife. Amazing. Not only supportive, but surprised you with a new Mac. Well it sounds like you know how lucky you are, and it looks like you’re definitely using it well.
Michael
Michael@ Awareness * Connections last blog post..What Web 2.0 Says About Human Beings
Michael: Thanks Michael. My wife and my Mac; two things I definitely don’t take for granted.
Michael: Thanks Michael. My wife and my Mac; two things I definitely don’t take for granted.
Wow. Great partners, you two.
PS: I just subscribed.
Lisas last blog post..Loving Limits
Wow. Great partners, you two.
PS: I just subscribed.
Lisas last blog post..Loving Limits
I loved the title there! :D
I loved the title there! :D
Lisa: Thank you for subscribing. I’m very glad to have you.
Daniel: Thanks, it’s paraphrased, but definitely the message.
Lisa: Thank you for subscribing. I’m very glad to have you.
Daniel: Thanks, it’s paraphrased, but definitely the message.
I have been to your site a couple of times but tonight I have decided to roam around. This one caught my eye in the sidebar. I have a MAC. I actually claim it as my third limb. I felt so guilty when I finally made the big purchase. That was 1 year ago and it is still going strong.
Enjoy! I do want to say you have a wonderful blog.
Tammy Warrens last blog post..My "wound" heart
I have been to your site a couple of times but tonight I have decided to roam around. This one caught my eye in the sidebar. I have a MAC. I actually claim it as my third limb. I felt so guilty when I finally made the big purchase. That was 1 year ago and it is still going strong.
Enjoy! I do want to say you have a wonderful blog.
Tammy Warrens last blog post..My "wound" heart
Tammy: Thanks so much. I really like this particular piece of writing. It’s a bit older, respectively, and hasn’t been read as much. That’s the odd thing about a blog, I’ve come to realize; you put your soul into something that’s sure to be forgotten if not barely remembered. Thanks for making me remember.
Tammy: Thanks so much. I really like this particular piece of writing. It’s a bit older, respectively, and hasn’t been read as much. That’s the odd thing about a blog, I’ve come to realize; you put your soul into something that’s sure to be forgotten if not barely remembered. Thanks for making me remember.
Ahh…I remember seeing this go up – way before we started posting regularly…this is one of those “Oh hell yes!” entries.
Ahh…I remember seeing this go up – way before we started posting regularly…this is one of those “Oh hell yes!” entries.
Writer Dad, Your piece makes me both envious and hopeful. I am loving Daisy and all the people like her. She stokes your fire, she hums your tune. Of course you can do anything (with our without a MAC). Thank you for sharing this inspirational piece.
Regards,
Nora
Writer Dad, Your piece makes me both envious and hopeful. I am loving Daisy and all the people like her. She stokes your fire, she hums your tune. Of course you can do anything (with our without a MAC). Thank you for sharing this inspirational piece.
Regards,
Nora
Oh wow! Beautiful.
My husband is my biggest cheerleader – and that makes my life and struggle so much more beautiful!
Your words and the words of Daisy bring tears to my eyes – with a companionship such as this you reach new heights and live a life very worthwhile!
Not very original but I will say the same thing to you both – Don’t let your ideas get away …keep it going – you will reach places!
Mayas last blog post..Slideshow: My Story – The Happiness Habit
Oh wow! Beautiful.
My husband is my biggest cheerleader – and that makes my life and struggle so much more beautiful!
Your words and the words of Daisy bring tears to my eyes – with a companionship such as this you reach new heights and live a life very worthwhile!
Not very original but I will say the same thing to you both – Don’t let your ideas get away …keep it going – you will reach places!
Mayas last blog post..Slideshow: My Story – The Happiness Habit
Matthew: Oh, I like that… A hell yes entry. Sounds better than Deja Vuesday.
Nora: My absolute pleasure, and thank you.
Maya: It doesn’t have to be original, only come from the heart. It did that well. Thank you, Maya.
Matthew: Oh, I like that… A hell yes entry. Sounds better than Deja Vuesday.
Nora: My absolute pleasure, and thank you.
Maya: It doesn’t have to be original, only come from the heart. It did that well. Thank you, Maya.
I love finding writers who can make me feel their emotions in their writing.
Thank you for this post, above the incredible love and support you and Daisy share, you’ve inspired me to continue my dream of becoming a successful writer!
Cheers,
Kates
Ha, it’s been a while since I’ve called her Daisy! Too funny.
Wonderful to meet you Kates. Thanks for stopping by!
Sean