(In case that title was missed, read it and think Wizard of Oz)
Before I press on a small aside....when planning a surprise for someone like my wife did, listen when they drop hints or all but say they want things, please listen.
A few weeks ago I said maybe we could have dinner with my cousin in NYC on or around my birthday. Not too vague was it? Well anyway when we are leaving the stadium on the way to the park/dinner (remember, the park was my detour)I asked if it was just us 3 for dinner and my wife said yes. She then said who did I want there?
I made a few calls and left a message for my cousin. This makes things make more sense in a bit so you know..

Candles of thanks: So after the park we hop a cab to St Patrick's Cathedral. Mass was going on but I had to light a candle to thank God for the news I got. I went to the same saint I did 3 weeks ago and lit a candle and said a prayer.
Anyone out there that said them for KP while she was ill, do me one last favor and say one of thanks. The thanks is always good.

On thick ice: So we cross the street and watch the ice skaters at Rockefeller Ctr. In the winter I like this and even had dinner once at one of the two places that are at rink level where all you do is look out and watch them. April and ice skating do not mix but my son wanted to watch so we had a few minutes to kill so we did. Glad we did
I watched I guy propose on the rink. One knee, surpised girl, the whole thing. I am in this love mood lately so I loved it! I saw it as a sign of my life to come, that I got 1/2 my gift on Friday and that this shows me I will get the other half one day.
I later find out my wife almost yelled "Don't do it!!!" she is so soured of marriage. That made me sad.
Listen, am I the best husband? No, not by a long shot.
But I tried and still do. She still has me and could in theory keep me. And even if this does end bad, I think all we did have was good while it lasted and I know I am the reason my son is not even less mature and why he might just make it. And how do I get it back? Well more on that later...
Eat the Bull (Well it is dead, shame to waste the meat):
So now it is dinner time. My wife and I a few months ago were in the city and we passed this place that served buffalo. While I was on a trip once I tried it and loved it and also this place has great look to it. I order a nice piece of meat, and a bourbon. Never drank that till I knew KP and it is one way we connect in my head.
So I head off to the bathroom to call KP when my phone rings.
My cool aunt calling because now she has my cell # from when I called to get my cousin's #. She wishes me Happy B'day and we talk a few minutes. That she put together to call me on that number shows why I love that woman and why I love that she is my godmother, not fairy but just regular. I tru KP and get her voice mail.
So as I eat the meat all I think is that this is the bull. KP and I had kidded that when we finally killed that bastard(anyone who is not up to speed, Kill the Bull is how we said for her to get better. there is a long story to it which is somewhere in a previous post) we would both have a steak and eat it.
As I ate that thing I never had better meat. The food itself was good but all I kept thinking as I ate "You poor bull, you never had a shot!" and I had the biggest grin as I ate every piece. I even flirted with taking the bone home and burying it, but that might be hard to explain to the wife.
I called my parents and let them sing to me. They do it every year and I let them even though it has become corny. My cousin called and he was busy but we will get dinner soon.
Dinner was great
Food was good
The waitress was just right in terms of service and attitude
And boy that bull tasted good even if it was a buffalo.

More to come...and trust me we are getting close to the end.
One last thing:
I want to say again that my wife did a good job at all this.
She really tried
I know I knock the woman alot on here and I think anyone reading this story will think that she is doing all this and I am thinking about KP. I should be thinking about her. I was. I really tried and it was not that hard, to be in that moment in that place with the people I was with...and not on the other side of the world.
She really did a good job at all this and it was a great idea, a good start, but is it too late for a start?