< by Jill >

My mom is a bottomless fount of wisdom, particularly when it comes to relationships. When I was a wee sprout, she gave me foolproof tips how to relate to the opposite gender.

Mom, how do I talk to boys? Ask them questions about themselves.

Mom, how do get a guy to remember significant events? Remind him as the date approaches.

It’s not rocket science, but it’s solid advice — and it thwarts the notion that every birthday and anniversary is some kind of “test” that a companion must pass.

With this advice in mind, I always alert my beau (and my friends) when an important milestone approaches. Sometimes, I even take the reins — I bought out a restaurant for my 25th and invited everyone I knew. Narcissistic, you say? Well, I’ll have you know that I opted not to get the balloons printed with my face on them.

This year I took a different tack. I kept my birthday on the down-low. It’s my 27th, yawn.

With nary a reminder, Nate took me to a concert on Friday night. Then, on Saturday night, he treated me to dinner at my favorite restaurant. Afterward, he escorted me to a candy shop for dessert. As we neared home, he suggested a walk.

“A walk? No way, Jose, it’s too cold!”

“My name’s not Jose!”

We went for the walk. Along the way, we passed a park that’s flanked by two giant giraffe statues. However, their pedestals were vacant — no trace of the giraffes! So we went home.

Back in apartment 503, I tidied up my bedroom when Nate called out, “Hey! What are you doing in there?” I came out of my room and met him in the doorway.

“I have a confession to make,” he started. “I had planned to do something at the giraffe statues. Can I do it now?”

“Sure.”

Then, he got down on one knee and proposed.

It was better than anything I could have ever requested or imagined. And now I need to ask my mom how to plan a wedding!

[  This week, you’ll get to read a bunch of other great birthday stories 🙂   ]