Wednesday, June 16, 2010

Happy Birthday Nancy

This is Nancy. Today, June 16th, is her Birthday. I won’t divulge her age but most people who guess are surprised to find out she is older than she looks.

Aside from my trying to convince her how utterly brilliant I am at Jeopardy during evening cocktails, Nancy truly is the smartest person I know. There are few decisions beyond “light or dark beer” that I make without consulting her first. She has the uncanny ability to see that which I overlook; rooting out the dust bunnies accumulated in the crevices of my brain. She keeps my “feet on the ground” and my “nose to the grindstone”. She’s the last person I talk to before I sleep and the first one I see in the morning. Sometimes, if I’m lucky, some mornings she even brings me coffee.

Nancy can’t sing or play an instrument; she’s not athletic and she’s nervous around most animals. But in the stuff that matters she’s got a lot of Chutzpah. Nancy is not above encouraging our taking “calculated risks” to move us forward together.

Nancy worked for many years as a Social Service Worker with Child Protective Services. On more than one occasion police officers have told her they couldn’t do her job.

There have been people who have not always treated her well. Yet in the 25 years I have known her, I have never heard her use a hateful word against another person. I have never known her to lie and never has she EVER intentionally hurt another person.

Nancy believes that it’s not enough to simply treat others the way you would wish to be treated – one needs to help other people whenever and where ever one can. If you were to look up the definition of Integrity in the dictionary, her picture would be right next to it.

I’m the lucky guy she chose to be her partner. Sure, she isn’t perfect, but she’s pretty damn close... and my life is a whole lot richer for being part of hers.

Happy Birthday Nancy... and many more.

20 comments:

Penny said...

Happy Birthday Nancy!
I think readers of this blog may feel we know you, just a little bit :).

Have you considered blogging yourself?

Elisabeth said...

You've not an ponce of skepticism about Nancy, Robert and from what you say, I'd agree. You are a lucky fellow. Happy birthday to Nancy.

Nancy said...

Thanks, honey. A good thing you married an older woman who has gained so much wisdom from my various life challenges. We have done things together that neither of us would have been able to do by ourselves (like retire early, for example!)

Penny, I might consider blogging, however I'm not sure the things I would have to say would be of much interest to anyone else. I'd probably be talking about what cute thing one of my 4 grandkids said or did lately. I have finally conquered FaceBook, but barely know how to sign in to leave a comment on a blog.

Heidrun Khokhar, KleinsteMotte said...

Happy birthday and it's ok to write about grand kids, etc. Blogging is more fun than FB.Reading posts has me laughing, speculating and trying things I might not have like posting pictures. Today I even had a science lesson about bird poop!!

Gorilla Bananas said...

Happy birthday, Nancy, how wonderful to see you comment. Your name always makes me think of Rocky Raccoon.

"Her name was Magill, and she called herself Lil, but everyone knew her as Nancy."

The Mother said...

What a lovely birthday card. And I'm glad she's older than she looks, or I'd be worried about you.

Robert the Skeptic said...

Penny She doesn't blog but she apparently has mastered FaceBook.

Elisabeth True, I am a "believer" when it comes to Nancy. No doubts here.

KleinsteMotte She's pretty adept at the FaceBook thing, lots of pictures of grand kids. In fact, I "lifted" these blog pics from her FB site. Me Bad!

Bananas I am NOT allowed to sing that song in her presence - and especially not No.9 No.9 No.9 No.9 ...

Dr. Mom I have a narrow four week window in which I can mercilessly accuse her of being a "Cougar".

CiCi said...

Very nice tribute to Nancy. Happy Birthday to Nancy, and many more.

Marylinn Kelly said...

What better gift than someone who knows your worth...and is not too shy to speak of it. Happy Birthday, Nancy. This made me smile.

Gutsy Living said...

Finally, I get to see a photo of both of you. Happy Birthday Nancy. Perhaps a trip to France is in the works. From Robert's post, I can tell that he both loves and admires you and this is what makes a marriage work. I'm lucky to feel the same about my husband and I like the fact that you sound "Gutsy." Make sure you have a nice glass of champagne from France tonight.

Murr Brewster said...

Based on the 16-year-old photo, and not the others, Nancy is 57. Happy birthday! You're both pretty lucky, I'm guessing.

Robert the Skeptic said...

TechnoBabe So NOW Nancy feels motivated to link my blog to her FaceBook page !!

Marylinn Shyness has never been my problem.

Gutsy It turns out we do actually have a bottle of French champagne in the fridge. Our kids are encouraging us to try a visit to Italy as well. So many choices; but either trip will likely need to wait until next year.

Murr We're going to go with your estimate on that.

The Idiot Speaketh said...

Happy Birthday Nancy! Though I have never met you, you sound like a truly remarkable woman!

secret agent woman said...

A very happy birthday to Nancy!

(Word verification: readism. A discrimination against people who read?)

Mary Witzl said...

That is a really lovely tribute -- you are a lucky man. And I love Nancy's comment! It took me ages to get the hang of Facebook, by which time my kids were all well and truly disgusted with me. Still, we can but try.

Robert the Skeptic said...

Mary I have a FaceBook page as well but I don't do much with it. I have a bunch of "friends" but the ones I actually know I could count on one hand.

Me said...

This is the sweetest thing :)

kara said...

Happy birthday to the best evil-stepmother ever! (late)

Robert the Skeptic said...

Kara She says "thank you"! Now, back to the scullery with you.

Charlie said...

I'm a tad late, but who the hell cares in the Great Scheme of Stuff. Happy Birthday, Nancy, and thanks, Robert, for the tribute.