Birthday Cake and John

A couple of years ago, Macy's announced that they would be producing and selling a huge, new line of housewares and domestic products by Martha Stewart. Prior to that announcement, I had avoided the Home Department as if it was the plague. As a sales manager, it always seemed to be a nightmare- countless customer service issues, the bridal department and an ordering system that seemed so archaic. I just couldn't take it for more than a quick recovery by folding the textiles and moving onto a department I was familiar with.

After the announcement, I begged to be a part of the department. Luckily, I got the opportunity in Las Vegas at the Fashion Show Mall. I went haywire and began saving all of the Martha propaganda as if I was the president of her fan club. We knew about Martha almost a year before it was introduced and we spent that time planning out how we could get all of her beautiful, giant fixturing into the existing shop. We took classes, trained associates and watched video broadcasts featuring Martha. It was a dream come true when they told me I had to attend a Martha Stewart seminar in California.

What may seem unfortunate to most was that the seminar fell on my birthday. To me, this was the greatest gift of all. I would have the opportunity to win free Martha merchandise before it even hit the shelves and see each and every one of her products. In the back of my mind, I thought perhaps she will show up to this Macy's celebration, but that never did happen. It still was a great birthday trip.

When I arrived home, exhausted from the long, all-day trip, John was not home. He had called me on my way to tell me to go directly to my friend Lisa's. Lisa had recently moved to Las Vegas from Albuquerque and was a longtime Macy's friend. She lived in the apartment building across from ours, in the same apartment complex.

I showed up to a beautiful chocolate cake and John, Lisa and her two boys sang "Happy Birthday" to me. After blowing out the candles, I enjoyed a delicious piece of cake and I think even two. I opened a few gifts- one of which was a gift certificate for a tattoo- which I still have not redeemed because of my indecisive nature. I read a few cards. And I thanked Lisa for the cake. Lisa told me that she did not bake the cake.

John had spent the day baking my cake and decorating it beautifully. It was a delicious and I will never forget- to know that he would take the time to do this for me- something he truly didn't really enjoy doing, meant the world to me.