Entry FeedLast Friday my Husband turned 37. We were up at Severn Lodge with his side of the family (I think that there were 26 of us in total). It was amazing to watch my kids playing with all of their cousins!
Friday night, for Husband's birthday, I had ordered a cake. Because each family had a different dinner time, we sang when almost everyone was in the dining room, and left the rest of the cake for their dessert.
The resort brought in a magician for entertainment, and the kids really wanted to go. Husband, who had seen the show a few years ago, knew that if you arrived late than the magician / comedian would call you out, took the kids over and got seats in the middle and near the side well before the show started.
Husband is the most amazing and wonderful man in the world. But he is shy. We don't see this as an issue, he just is a little quiet and a bit harder to get to know. He also HATES being the centre of attention - so much so that he tried to talk me into eloping as he dreaded our wedding day so much. I can easily recognize the sweating and the embarrassed smile when Husband is out of his element. You know those people who come early to a comedy show, hoping to sit in the front row? They are the OPPOSITE of my Husband.
Of course the magician, with a six-sense for humiliation, zeroed in on Husband for a sketch. Husband had to wear a large jacket while the magician hid behind Husband with his arms through Husband's sleeves for the trick. I laughed and then cried for Husband, who really did well.
The next night was Karaoke. This cemented the fact that Husband will never return to Severn Lodge. One large family seemed to hog most of the show, doing song after boring song. Then the host decided to do a "special" song where he selected a member from the audience. Of course he chose Husband. In a pink curly wig and glasses, Husband sang "Like a virgin" in front of 10 or so relatives and 25 other people he has never met. To know my husband is to understand how painful this must have been for him. Luckily, no one had a camera.
Perhaps there is something about being a parent, where you put yourself aside so often for the benefit of your children. Husband, while not thrilled with his new entertainer status, was a big hit for our kids, who couldn't wait to tell everyone about their father the magician, or their Daddy singing in a wig. And that kept Husband smiling.