Isn't He Lucky?

Surprising Mick is never an easy feat.

Mick is the budget Nazi. Nothing, and I mean NOTHING financially based gets past him. Even when a pair of new socks is purchased, he has to ask when, why, where, for who, how, and how much- crunching numbers in his head as each question is answered. Nearly always there is a game of 30 questions that ensues after each shopping trip.

Good thing I'm not much of a shopper! But, back to the story...

Which is why when Father's Day approached, and I really wanted to replace our lawn mower that had finally given up the ghost after years of use and a gazillion repairs, I had to get sneaky.

Mick had told me in the past not to go buy and new lawn mower without him. He wanted to see them and DID NOT want a propelled lawn mower. He detests being walked by a lawn mower, besides he thinks they are too hard to back up. I thought he was crazy, because who doesn't want someone, or something else to do all the hard work for you if technology has advanced that far? But what a man wants, he shall get.

Going to handyman stores for other projects, Mick always ventured over to the lawn mower section and dreamed while I stood looking around and doing my research. At their prices, I knew Mr. Budget would not be buying one before I would surprise him with one. As Father's Day approached and in his words, Mick had "fixed the lawn mower for the last time", I knew this was my chance.

With Aspen and Liberty dropped off at Summer Playground, Abbie and I secretly made our way to Home Depot with our no longer-to-be zero balance credit card. Mick called when we were on our way and I had to fib about mine and Abbie's whereabouts just to keep up the secret intention.

I found the oldest salesman I could find to tell me the difference in brands and accessories of the only two mowers that fit Micks qualifications. If age didn't determine the amount of lawn mowers a man could use in a lifetime, I didn't know what else would. After loading the box on a flatbed cart, Abbie rode and I pushed Mick's new baby to the van. Easiest birth ever, in my opinion. In record time I had it unloaded, in my neighbors backyard, assembled, hidden, and all cardboard disposed off with only Abbie as my witness.

Then, for three solid days I worried myself sick wondering if it was a good purchase: We really needed a new one, I rationalized. I hope Mick doesn't freak that I used the credit card! It was a purchase over $25, I hope he doesn't care I didn't talk with him about it first. He wouldn't get the bill for another month, right? By then he should be happy about his new machine and not care one bit about the price!

Saturday before Father's Day arrived, Mick and I had been doing house and yard work. All day he said how he still needed to mow the lawn. I was debating whether to wait until Sunday to surprise him. With the new bright shiny red lawn mower just waiting to be used, I gathered the girls for Mick's surprise a day early.

The girls brought their cards, I tied the bow and we wheeled our new baby to greet Mick. He couldn't believe his eyes. Finally, I had surprised him, and with no adverse reaction to how I purchased it! Quickly the oil was poured in, the gas tank filled and Mick was off cutting to his hearts content.

The surprise went over so well, I'm thinking next year I might surprise him with something even bigger: a tandem bike, a new bathroom, a cruise trip, a different job, a different house...

Happy Father's Day Mick. We loved surprising you, even if you do get to pay off your surprise!