Birthday Ben

Sunday was Benny Boo's 23rd birthday. It took everything within me to believe him when he said a family dinner is all that he wanted. The fact that I wasn't squirming with surprises and secrets killed me. The more people I get to celebrate with on my birthday, the better. (Ben and Rose threw me quite the birthday-kidnap surprise last February and it was fabulous). We had birthday waffles for breakfast and then celebrated in style with a take-and-bake pizza for dinner- Ben's favorite from Mama MiMi's - and a "Tasty Cake" baked by his sweet mother. Ben's mom is fantastic in the kitchen and the poor woman gave birth (23 years ago) to a boy who has the most bland taste buds in the world. She could make just about anything, and he requests a Tasty Cake - yellow cake with a layer of peanut butter, topped with chocolate and then chilled. The very same Tasty Cake that he requested for his groom's cake just nine months ago. The same cake that he set down in reaction to the white wedding cake that was shoved up his nose... and the same cake that was snatched up within seconds of his attending to his frosted face, thus, leaving the poor groom without even a bite of his own Tasty Cake on his wedding day. But alas, now there is an entire Tasty Cake in our refrigerator and a content twenty-three year old in our living room.

In light of the recent event, I thought it appropriate to share with you twenty-three of my favorite things about birthday Ben. (the following are in no certain order).

1. His mad guitar skills

2. His mad writing skills

3. His undying commitment

4. He's super strong when I'm super weak

5. His ability to reason in stressful situations

6. The way I fit just right in his arms, and just right under his chin

7. He smokes a pipe

8. He remembers crazy facts

9. The way he quizzes me every time a song by the following comes on the radio: The Rolling Stones, The Doors, Led Zeppelin, Jack White.

10. His story telling - sound effects included.

11. He loves me more than I ever thought possible

12. His affinity for all things flannel

13. His new affection for sweet tea

14. His leadership

15. His collection of vinyl records

16. The way our dinners together often become lecture series.

17. His mad dance moves

18. His big brown eyes

19. His brown turtle fur toboggan

20. He's a fisherman

21. He's good at building fires

22. He uses a typewriter

23. He's gunna grow old with me.

You make me feel all warm inside.

Some things are too good to keep to yourself. Please accept this, my some-what public apology, for keeping one of the best cold-weather treats to myself for the last 22 years. You may squirm at the description of the following, but please, don't knock it til you try it. It's a warm, delicious, calorie-filled comfort snack that no home should be without this season and I'm pretty sure my dad invented it. Of course, I thought my mom wrote the lullaby she sang to me at night for a good 18 years before I heard some other kid singing it at college. That was painful. Regardless... all you need to warm your bones and add a little extra insulation is a handful of Graham crackers, butter and hot chocolate. The butter is to be spread on the cracker, the cracker to be dipped in the cocoa. But be warned, this dipping requires some practice. Lingering too long will result in a broken cracker - for this reason, may I suggest that a spoon be kept on hand for the beginners. I've just finished my first graham-hot cocoa delight of the fall, and assure you there will be more to come. Some complementary tasty-treat activities that pair well with the delicacy include, but are not limited to: Letter writing, old movie watching, Etsy shopping.

Holly Hocking Hilltops

My Tuesday is like most people's Saturdays. My 'work week' starts on Thursday and ends Monday, which I guess makes my Monday like most people's Fridays, which is especially bizarre. Thankfully, Ben has Tuesday's off too. Tuesday is right in the middle of his two busiest days, though, so he actually has things to accomplish while simultaneously trying to keep me entertained... I will admit that yesterday, in a moment of weakness, I had a pouty moment in which I vocally envied regular people's Saturday's off with their husbands and the ability to participate in shared activity. I tried to suck it up and headed to the grocery store (which I should never do in a grumpy state. I'm not a good shopper even when I'm in a good mood. But trying to meander your way around those indecisive people and the unnecessary extra cardboard stands that make the most available products that much more available to you - I just don't have the patience for it). Regardless, I came home to find a carelessly forgotten pair of boots on the front step. I kicked them out of the way and entered the first door. Up the stairs and I had to dodge a water bottle followed by a folded scarf and a pocket knife. I could hear one of our favorite driving songs through the second wooden door, and just as I was trying to solve this creative puzzle, I opened the door to find a condensed trail of long johns, gloves, my jacket, a granola bar, my camera, a burnt CD entitled "Fall Road Trip," all leading to my grinning husband. This was going to be good.

Road trips happen to be one of our spontaneous strengths. Ben has been my go-to road trip accomplice for the last five years and accompanied me to see the sunrise on the beach at least three times during college when I just needed to get out. The road-trips were never planned, but given only two hours (at most) notice -- enough time to make the appropriate road-trip music, get some coffee, and drive the eight hours through the night until we pull up to the coast, tired, groggy, irritable and looking for the nearest gas station for another round of coffee and chocolate covered donuts. We'd watch the sunrise (if it wasn't too cloudy), and turn right around, heading back for TN. These photos are from the first adventure (freshman year), during which I only allowed myself the documentation of two disposable cameras. And yes, that blonde bombshell is now my husband.

So, needless to say, I was quite excited to see the CD - there are few things I appreciate more than an appropriate soundtrack. I had enough time to put up the groceries and grab my things (including my 35mm camera, for old times sake), before Ben lead me out the door and down the road. I grabbed a sweet tea at a Sonic on the way, and was set. We headed for Logan, Ohio, on recommendation of our friend Charity, for some hiking and leaf-looking. The drive to Hocking Hills (which Ben called Holly Hock all day), was just as good as the hike. We admired the hills and the colors to the sounds of Sufjan Stevans, Innocence Mission, Fionn Regan, Simon and Garfunkel, and of course some Jack White - even Ben's good friend Griffin Kelp. It was perfect. We're so enjoying this new stage of life in Columbus - but it was beyond refreshing to get out and remember what nature is. We rounded hilltops and drove the curvy road to Hocking Hills past little streets named things like Black Jack and past open fields where corn stalks recently stood.

The park was beautiful, and I have a feeling we hit it at just the right time. It was brisk, but beautiful weather and the leaves were falling as we walked. Ben enjoyed his pipe and took notes on a matchbook while I snapped photos all day in efforts to remember how perfect it all was. We stopped at a "pumpkin patch" on the way home - already picked pumpkins with a big jar out front to drop your money in, guarded by a lazy farm dog - and dropped by another park just down the road to encounter my first ever milkweed.

The whole day was just what we needed, and didn't even know it till it was over. I am so thankful for my husband's tender spirit and self sacrifice. So let this be your exhortation to get out and enjoy the colors before they all disappear for another year. May I also suggest a custom soundtrack - I have taken the liberty of suggesting some of my favorites below to help get you started.

and the film...

my favorite one.

a taste of my autumn tunes this year. each have been window-down, rolling hill-driving approved.

1. Grey or Blue by Jaymay

2. Strawberry Swing by Coldplay

3. Song for You by Alexi Murdoch

4. Hold you in my arms by Ray LaMontagne

5. Heavenly Day by Patty Griffin

6. Lay Lady Lay by Bob

7. J'en Connais by Carla Bruni

8. Swept Away by The Avett Brothers

9. The Underwood Typewriter by Fionn Regan

10. Never Be by Kelley McRae

11. Please Read the Letter by Robert Plant and Allison Krauss

12. Come on! Feel the Illinoise! by Sufjan Stevens

13. Vio Spilum Endalaust by Sigur Ros

14. Sweetness and Light by Bill Mallonee

15. Any and all of Nick Drake