YOKED TOGETHER WITH A GENTLEMAN

My husband Mike Anderson is a gentleman and last night talking with some of the ladies after my book club I figured out he may be rare. I have always known he was good but perhaps I am taking him for granted without enough appreciation. So I am shouting it on the rooftops: "Thank you Mike for growing up and being considerate."
One of my boys visited this last week. I always forget they are still children at least at my house. When they come they get out boxes of cereal and have breakfast and then walk off and leave it all sitting there for me to put back. Hello, can we be adults here. I wouldn’t do that at your house.
So, I am telling this to the girls in the car coming home from Salt Lake last night and some of them said, "Well, you are lucky if your husband doesn’t do it too." Then they went on to tell about closets that are strewn with clothes, bedside tables with books flowing onto the floor, dishes put in the sink at the best but most likely left on the table with cereal boxes. Yikes, Mike never does those things. Here are some things I love about Mike:
1. He washes the dishes every night including cleaning the kitchen. If we have guests I get to sit and talk after dinner while he cleans up
2. He takes care of all the finances. I hate to think about what a mess I would make of things and maybe I could learn but am grateful I don’t have to.
3. He supports my whims. I want to paint—sure take lessons and I will build you some frames. Mostly he tries to accommodate my ideas--recently a flagstone patio in our backyard woods. There isn’t much he says no to.
4. He is a man who talks and is interested in women things. Hey, he even watches Masterpiece Theater with me.
5. If I want to go off with my girlfriends to Education Week, a road trip, 10 days in Monterey, New York with a friend, painting in Colorado, whatever, he always says yes and I mean always.
6. He never says a word about the money I spend and he could and he is generous with all the people in his life.
7. He is a patient teacher. He has taught many people to ski. He is our Spanish tutor right now and none of us work very hard but he still plugs along trying to inspire us with creative ideas.
8. He has perseverance in all his life endeavors. He can teach himself how to do anything; rock walls, tile, refinish furniture, stain glass, do woodwork, speak Spanish, play golf ( his biggest challenge) whatever.
9. He picks up after himself--always has and he maintains the cars (I used to tell him that's why I married him).
Thank you Mike for being a gentleman. I am a lucky woman to be yoked with you because you pull more than your load.