When he had his 33rd birthday, I came to the party on a whim. Drove all the way to his sister’s house 45 minutes away. Even got there early to yell, “Surprise!”
To this day, I don’t remember why I went. I don’t even know how I got invited.
What I do know is that I’m glad I did.
Charlie and I had become friends over the previous six months. On a ministry team at our church, we’d found that we worked well together. He was fun. And a good leader. And funny. And handsome and kind and cheerful.
And have I mentioned?… A great cook. For our first meeting in his apartment in January, he had made us all jambalaya.
Jambalaya. If I’d been hosting that meeting, I would’ve served a bag of Lay’s potato chips (stale) with a bottle of store-brand soda (flat).
He was the only single guy I had ever met (or have ever met since) who owned good knives and pans.
Anyway, so I went to his surprise birthday party. He says that what especially surprised him was seeing me there.
It had just seemed natural for me to attend. After all, he was a good friend. I felt comfortable and safe with him — not a natural state for me with most men. I wasn’t interested in romance, which of course meant that I didn’t become a stuttering, staring, shut-down cipher in his presence.
At the party, we yelled, “Surprise!” and played volleyball. And ate well (because, big surprise, his sister’s an awesome cook too).
Weeks (or was it days?) later, Charlie and I started dating. You know how people say they just KNEW when it was the right person? Sappy, huh? Yeah, well I’m a sap.
Charlie was the ONE because he was the ONLY one I was friends with BEFORE I got all googly-eyed over him. Which meant I didn’t have a chance to get all commitment-phobic and bail.
***
As a result — surprise! — I was there when he celebrated his 34th birthday, too. By then we’d been married just over one month.
Fifteen years later… Well, you can do the math. Charlie’s 49 today.
I love him more now than I did the day I married him. Every day I thank my God for the gift of our relationship.
Happy Birthday, Hubbly.
I love you.
19 responses so far ↓
1 Wendy // May 27, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Happy Birthday Charlie! Now where’s the jambalaya?
Wendy’s last blog post..Parenting 101 – preparing for baby
2 Charlie // May 28, 2009 at 12:05 am
That’s the nicest birthday “card” I’ve every gotten. I love you, Baby!
3 Jo@Mylestones // May 28, 2009 at 5:14 am
Love that story, Steph!
Happy 49th Charlie! (SO did you make a really yummy cake for yourself?)
4 katdish // May 28, 2009 at 6:11 am
Aw, Happy Birthday Mr. Wetzel! Now, follow me on twitter and I’ll tell you over there! Just kidding, but just in case: @katdish
You’re a lucky man to have that crazy woman for your wife.
katdish’s last blog post..These Small Hours
5 Candy // May 28, 2009 at 6:33 am
Happy Birthday, Charlie! Good thing you didn’t fix head cheese or that might have been a deal-breaker. I’d have fallen for handsome, kind and cheerful guy too – in fact I did. But good knives and pans? The mother lode! RB made jello (in a bathtub), kept a dead goldfish in the freezer, but somehow, yeah, you just know. Jambalaya would have sealed the deal much sooner.
Have a blessed bjirthday! And follow @candysteele
Candy’s last blog post..Buddy the Dog or "What’s for Lunch?"
6 @ngie // May 28, 2009 at 7:34 am
Happy Birthday, Charlie!
Steph, that was a great story.
@ngie’s last blog post..Since Friday
7 Robin ~ PENSIEVE // May 28, 2009 at 7:49 am
Awww…sweetness!
HAPPY BIRTHDAY, CHARLIE. You sound like a keeper
Robin ~ PENSIEVE’s last blog post..Eden and after
8 Beth // May 28, 2009 at 8:25 am
I LOVE “how we got together” stories! Happy birthday, Charlie!
Beth’s last blog post..Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord, Trust in the Lord…
9 Helen // May 28, 2009 at 8:28 am
Happy Birthday Charlie.
In my case, head cheese would have been a nice touch, but after 10 years of marriage, I was finally able to get Bob to try it, and that’s enough for me somehow.
Happy Birthday.
Helen’s last blog post..Please, Mr. Government Official, Permit Me to Pray With My Friends in My Own Home…
10 Evenshine // May 28, 2009 at 8:37 am
Happy hubbly birthday!
Pass the jambalaya!
Evenshine’s last blog post..Is there an echo in here?
11 the domestic fringe // May 28, 2009 at 8:49 am
Happy B-Day Charlie!!!!!
You flat store-brand soda line made me crack-up. I’m SO guilty of cheepskating on the soda.
-FringeGirl
12 Joyce // May 28, 2009 at 9:11 am
That was sweet and I’m totally stealing the Beatles vid for my husbands 50th birthday in Sept.
So, does Charlie cook his own birthday dinner?
Joyce’s last blog post..Tea quenches thirst and tears
13 thefarmerfiles // May 28, 2009 at 1:21 pm
Happy Bday Charlie! Wow, friends, and you guys were married in no time, huh? Congratulations on your recent wedding anniv too!
thefarmerfiles’s last blog post..The First Stake Out Births the Marshmallow Roast Ten Years Later
14 Steph at the Red Clay Diaries // May 28, 2009 at 1:57 pm
You guys are great! Thanks for “signing” Charlie’s birthday card with such great messages.
And to answer a couple questions:
No, Charlie does not bake his own cake. Like many regular chefs, he doesn’t especially like baking. That’s my area.
Yes, Charlie IS making his birthday dinner. Something about not being in the mood for tuna sandwiches…
15 Marni // May 28, 2009 at 2:28 pm
Happy Birthday Charlie
What a great story Steph. I love meeting other ladies who not only are in love with their husbands, but who are friends with them too!!
PS–Let me know when you’re ready for my address so you can send me Jambalaya. I’m not in the mood for tuna fish sandwiches anymore either…
Marni’s last blog post..Lindsay’s 18th B-day
16 Screwed Up Texan // May 28, 2009 at 3:02 pm
Happy Birthday Charlie! Is he making head cheese? If so, please spare me the photos unless your mixing it with chorrizo and beans. Nah, save that for the big 5-0.
Screwed Up Texan’s last blog post..Thistle Simile
17 faemom // May 28, 2009 at 4:27 pm
Happy Birthday, Charlie!
It’s wonderful that you have someone so wonderful in your life.
faemom’s last blog post..The Jump Arounds: Or my brain is melting; help me
18 Billy Coffey // May 30, 2009 at 11:14 pm
Aww, what a great story. Happy birthday, Charlie.
Billy Coffey’s last blog post..Holding on…
19 Jake // May 31, 2009 at 10:38 am
Great birthday post. Stories beat the random birthday cake image followed by “happy B-day, So-and-so!”
Jake’s last blog post..The Thrill of Hope
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