I nearly forgot – it would have been a major blunder – it’s Pete’s birthday today. Siggi’s is on the 12th and his is on the 13th. Had I not remembered early on, I would have felt really bad. His mother beat me to it – she called him before we were even up. For some reason, I kept thinking “Mother’s Day.”

A year ago we were in Southern Colorado and had just met Signy. What a year. Now she’s here and her foal is in our shelter. And Pete’s another year older.

The other day, when I was in town, I got him a present. Some years I do better than others. One year I had a neighbor make him a picnic table. And the following year I gave him two geranium plants, which we now have in our bathroom. They have pretty purple flowers.

This year I drew a blank. I had a brilliant idea, but then I lost it. So I ended up buying him two bars of dark chocolate. I wrapped them in Christmas paper, but then could not find the tape. So I handed him what I had in hand. He was far more appreciative than he ought to have been.

Pete’s one amazing guy. As I write this, I can hear hammering. He’s putting front and rear frames on the hoop house – a building project that takes some knowledge of carpentry. Not only is he hands on, he’s minds on. He’s always thinking through something – and is well versed politically, and geographically. And I can take him places with me knowing that he also has it together socially.

This morning I asked him if he’d come with me, I was wanting to take Signy and Hrimmi for a walk around the loop. I added that this wasn’t something that I felt confident about doing alone. He readily agreed to come along, even though he was itching to get going on the hoop house.

I later got to thinking that Pete’s ongoing gift to me is his unfaltering belief that I will someday get my act together. In the meantime, I keep writing – he has not ever pressured me to find a 9 to 5 job that pays. He is to be commended for sticking it out with me because the words “my career” and “uncertainty” seem to go hand-in-hand.

I should be able to come up with something better than two bars of dark chocolate. Three would be far better.

Next: 157. 05/14/12: Wonderfoal