From Dawn:

Hi All,

I loved Vicky's story. Thanks for that! And I thought I'd share my birthday memories of Jon last year.

He had a bishopric meeting till 9:30 or so, which meant we couldn't do dinner that night but I told him to come over afterwards and I'd have a treat for him. I made these chocolate cakelets (pictures attached) and decorated them like baseballs and baseball hats. He loved it. However, I'm not a milk drinker so I didn't have any milk on hand and we had to make pink lemonade for the festivities. He made do without saying a word and with much graciousness. :) And after we were married I even conceded to buying 2% on occasion, instead of the skim I usually bought. Although I was very tempted to water it down, but decided not to after his disbelief that I would even consider such a profanity.

But back to the birthday. I'd gotten him four small presents and I was going to give him 1 a day for 4 days just for fun.

Present #1
That night I gave him a pair of flipflops I'd gotten him. He was VERY, VERY opposed to flipflops and had expressed his adverse opinion of the type of guys he assumed wore them for fun. And that they were ONLY suitable if one were walking on the beach and we were NOWHERE near the beach. But because he came over to my place every night after work and it was summer time, he would get so hot and take off his shoes and socks as soon as he came over. It would take so long for him to put his shoes and socks back on every time we wanted to walk to the park or he needed to run out to his car or something that I kept cajoling him into buying a pair. But I figured he wouldn't refuse to wear them if I gave them to him as a present, right? :) So even though he wasn't super impressed with the present he wore them to appease me. BUT he was completely ridiculous and couldn't walk at all in them. I never knew walking in flip flops was a talent. But Jon did not posesss it. He did this really weird, huge frankenstein stagger in them, because he couldn't keep them on his feet. he would shuffle his legs along stiff-kneed with his arms outstretched like he was a blind man, (or Frankenstein) and because he was such a big guy he was a dead ringer for the creature. it was hilarious and i'd laugh like crazy whenever i watched him walk.

Present #2
Oh and he'd be embarassed that i told you this, but if he's going to be rude and die first i figure, what the heck. :) i also got him some workout type shorts he could change into after work and hang out in at my place during the summer because i wouldn't let anyone use the air conditioning due to the expense and he would get so hot in his jeans. But my ulterior motive was that he could wear them for when i made him do yoga with me. which he did, to my delight and his complete discomfort---exactly two times i think.

Present #3
I also got him an electronic change jar that he could keep all his change in from the vending machine habit he had at work. I'm still trying to decide what to do with all of it.

Present #4
I can't remember the forth. Hmmm, I'll keep thinking...

Happy Birthday, Jon-Boy

Love,
Dawn

Comments

[vicki]

I LOVE this, Dawn!! Thanks so much for sharing this with us...and WOW! I had no idea how talented you are...I SO impressed with your/his baseball cakelets!!

:^)

[jo]

hi family and loved ones of jon. tears continue to feel right. i played the video again, to look, see, feel and remember.

thank you dawn, vicki. for adding to this and giving us a happy and laughing memory. i am thinking of you all. love jo

[Kelly]

The flipflops are so funny, I remember seeing him in and them and asking him about them. We definitely didn't ever wear them growing up, I still can't wear them. I bet he was a great audience for your yoga even if he didn't participate. :D