My husband catches me by surprise sometimes. I mean really by surprise. We joke a lot because he’s not much of a reader and doesn’t understand why anyone would “waste time” reading a story. He’ll read instructional manuals and text books, but fiction? Not going to happen. The cosmic joke is that he’s married to a fiction writer.
Wait. It gets better.
After working for State Government for many long years, he was able to retire early with full benefits. That was great until a year later when he ran out of projects to do around the house, and decided he wanted to go back to work part time. So he got a job at—cosmic joke #2—a library!
It’s an easy job, something to keep him busy, but I think he enjoys it. He does meeting room set-ups and some minor maintenance around the place. The man is surrounded by books every day and by librarians who rattle on about their love of the written word. He’s come to appreciate the importance of libraries and the programs they offer, while the librarians couldn’t be happier to have someone of his work ethics. He has them completely spoiled.
The library itself is inviting, and I love going there. Among other amenities, there are plenty of comfy sitting areas both inside and out. One of the outside areas is in a section where people are able to purchase “memory bricks” for special occasions or in honor of loved ones. People place milestones there—anniversaries, awards, and names of family members. Take a seat on the bench that overlooks the area, and this is what you’ll see immediately to the left.
Yep. My husband surprised me with that. My name at our local library—a place of books, learning and imagination. I was thoroughly caught off guard. There were tears, hugs and laughter.
My books are in that library and now my name will hang around outside forever, long after I’m gone. Like I said, the man really surprises me sometimes. 🙂
Nawww! Mae that’s so sweet and awesome of your hubby! Sounds a real sweetie.
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PS: PERFECT title of the post too….
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Thanks. I had Pink Floyd in my head!
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I usually always have Floyd in my head 😉
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He’s my one and only, Jess! 🙂 He may not like reading fiction, but he’s awesome at supporting what I do!
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OMG snap!! Mae it’s scary how alike we are! My hubby’s the same. He’s going to grumble about being my very first beta reader (the last book he read was in high school) but he’ll do it with love in his heart because it’s mine.
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High school? LOL! That sounds like my guy.
You’ve definitely got a good one there 🙂
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That’s a great story. My partner’s much more hands-on than a reader too …
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Sometimes it’s much more about what’s done than said when it comes to our loved ones. 🙂
Great to have you drop by and comment.
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Oh, I love this! What a special gift! (My husband isn’t a reader either. He would have to wait for the movie to come out to read one of my books.) 😉
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HaHa! Joan, he sounds just like my hubby! 🙂
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Awww, that’s about the sweetest thing ever! Definitely hero material there. 🙂
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Hey, stranger!
He is definitely that–my hero 🙂
Thanks for dropping by. I see you’ve got a new anthology release out and love the sound of it!
Hope all has been well with you.
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What a wonderful story about the twists and turns in life! Thanks for sharing!
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Thanks for dropping by to check out the post, Erin!
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Such a loving, thoughtful, and kind thing for your husband to do for you.
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I know. I was in tears! 🙂
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My husband is just like that. He’ll read magazines and the Bible, but he doesn’t read fiction. I can’t even imagine him working in a library. Unless he’s cleaning it. He loves to clean (win!).
I think what your husband did is one of the sweetest things ever. I think he’s a keeper! 🙂
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His thoughtfulness with this really blew me away, Lauralynn. I was so taken by surprise.
And wow–your husband likes to clean? That is a win-win, LOL!
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Reblogged this on Die Erste Eslarner Zeitung – Aus und über Eslarn, sowie die bayerisch-tschechische Region!.
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Oh my…Mae, this brought tears to my eyes! There is so much love in this gesture. So much love. ❤️
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I agree, Natalie. I shed a lot of happy loving tears over this one 🙂
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How sweet. My hubby is the same way about reading.
sherry @ fundinmental
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It sounds like a lot of our guys aren’t avid readers, LOL. Interesting that they married women who are! 😀
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Oh my goodness, your hubby picked out the perfect gift! He may not like to read fiction, but he loves one special fiction writer. What a beautiful story, Mae. Thank you for stirring all of our hearts. ♥
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He definitely had me melting with this gift, Gwen. He may not read my books, but he is 100% behind what I do. I’m glad this story warmed your heart. Thanks so much for those sweet comments 🙂
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How lovely! Husbands are very peculiar creatures sometimes, but they do give you great surprises 😀
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That is a great take on how guys behave, Jan. Love it!
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Love this!!!
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Aww thank! 🙂
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Aw. That has to be the sweetest thing he could have done. Good on him.
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I agree, John. It was so sweet of him. And such a wonderful surprise for me! 🙂
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Someday after your Pulitzer Prize he can dedicate an other than pen name one. 😀
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Cosmic jokes or not, he’s definitely a keeper! What a wonderful thing he did for you.
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I know, right? It completely blew me away.
And at a library of all places–so perfect! 🙂
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Life is so full of opposites, yin, and yang and that’s what makes it all SO much fun! What a cool thing for your husband to do and how ironic that he winds up working at a library. 🙂 Yes, a cosmic joke.
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He and I are definitely yin and yang in many ways, Jan, and I think that’s what balances us so well. I chuckle every time I think of him working at a library. It’s just perfect! 🙂
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That’s a good man you got there. Truly a sweet thing to do for you. It will be there for generations to come, and somebody will say, “Have you ever read her books? They’re awesome!”
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I love that thought, Susan! 🙂
He is a good man. A very good man, and my soul mate. I consider myself so lucky!
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That’s such a sweet, thoughtful gift! You’ll have to keep him. And congrats!
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Thanks, Judi! We met in high school and have been together ever since. It was kismet! 🙂
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That’s a great story, Mae! He’s a keeper. 😉
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Thanks for reading, Kim. He’s my one and only!
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I love that your library does this! Your own walk of fame, lol. Your hubby is the romance hero we dream about 🙂
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A romance hero—I love that! And he is 🙂
I also love “walk of fame.” That brick will be there for generations to come!
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What a wonderful surprise, Mae! Aww, he’s a keeper. ❤
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Thanks, Sue. I was so excited when I realized what he’d done 🙂
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What a delightfully sweet story, Mae – you are one lucky girl because he thinks he’s one lucky guy! Thanks for sharing this!
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Thanks, John. And I do consider myself lucky 🙂
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Coolest thing ever. Whether he reads or not, he’s proud of YOU. Yay, him!! 🙂
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Thanks, Marcia! It was such a lovely and unexpected surprise. 🙂
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That’s so sweet of him! Also it’s fitting that he’s working in the library and seeing its vital importance. Ronnie and I got a paver for our first Snickerdoodle when one of our new branches was being built shortly after his birth. It tickles me to see it, as yours must tickle you. Good hubby.
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What a great idea for your Snickerdoodle!
My husband is really enjoying the library job and frequently comments to me about the importance of the children’s programs and how he loves seeing the difference it makes for kids. They have a new one going on where a group brings in dogs and children read to the dogs, which helps them build their reading skills and also confidence in reading aloud to others. Especially great for children who are a bit on the shy side.
He’s been exposed to so many wonderful programs since he started working at the library!
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We had the dogs at one time. We had some fab long time children’s librarians. It takes a special knack.
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It’s all been said here, I think, and there’s nothing meaningful I can add, except to say it’s a great idea and you must be very proud! Excellent!
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Aww, thanks, Frederick. Hubby outdid himself with this one 🙂
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Pingback: Can I Start My Weekend Now? | From the Pen of Mae Clair
What a wonderful surprise, Mae. Isn’t it amazing how men surprise you sometimes.
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Robbie, somehow I missed this comment.
Yes, it was quite a surprise and so appreciated. Thanks so much for visiting!
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What a sweetheart! My hubs doesn’t read fiction; I asked for his help once with some feedback. I learned my lesson–never let him read my stuff, and if he does, don’t take his advice on changes. Like yours, though, he supports my writing. And now people have something to take pictures of when you get rise to super best-seller status 😀
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LOL! I’d be happy just for steady Amazon best-seller status.
I sometimes bounce questions off my hubby when it comes to a plot point in my book, especially as related to anything mechanical. Unlike you, I’m a complete failure in that area. He’s great for that, and he made my day with the brick, but I’ve come to accept that him reading one of my books is probably not going to happen 🙂
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What a great sentiment. My wife and children have never read one of my stories, and the threads indicate that isn’t uncommon.
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That does seem to be the trend, Craig, with our loved ones. My DH my not read my stuff, but at least I know by this, how much he appreciates what I do! 🙂
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I think I’d keel over on the spot if my hubby did something like that. What a perfect surprise for a writer! My hubby isn’t much of a reader either and has no interest in my writing – glad I’m not alone in this, judging by the comments.
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It does seem like the bulk of the guys mentioned here don’t do much fiction reading. Weird how so many of us have opposites-attract type husbands.
I’ve been glowing about my brick 🙂
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What a nice surprise!
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Thanks, Traci. It certainly was!
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Pingback: Writing Links 6/19/17 – Where Genres Collide
That’s a beautiful gift.
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Thanks, Emma. I love it! 🙂
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Sounds like a pretty awesome guy. Definitely a keeper, though it seems like you figured that out a while back 😉
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Teehee. I most certainly did! 🙂
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That’s really cute! Awesome
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Hello, and thank you! Nice to have you drop by my blog 🙂
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This is the first story of yours I found, and it snapped me up–wonderful! I look forward to reading more.
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Thanks for dropping by and visiting! 🙂
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