Fantasy Friday - Long Overdue Accounting

I hope everyone is still out there. I sure haven't been doing much to keep in touch with anyone. Working this week - and having bus duty AM and PM - with this cold had made me feel like I've been in a heavy.  My ears and head have stayed stuffed and I'm just worn out. I still read everywhere, but I haven't felt like commenting or even answering many emails. I'm beating it, it's just taking a while. I would rest and write this weekend, but my sister is coming to Christmas shop.  Okay enough lamenting, on to the good stuff.

Our Fantasy Friday today is from another old friend I haven't heard from in quite a while - Purple Angel. She used to have a blog Spankful Delight, but she hasn't posted since 2013. Maybe she is still lurking and pop back up. I'd love to hear from her. This is a three part story and I really enjoyed this one. I hope you do.

Long Overdue Accounting

Vivian walked glumly from Altgeld Hall to her car. It was a windy, cool evening in late spring but she hardly noticed the lovely scent of the air or the fresh breeze. She couldn’t believe what had just happened to her.

Alright, truly “happened” to her was the wrong term, what she had allowed to happen was far more accurate. Although Vivian was 24 years old she was a freshman at the University. This past fall had been her first semester. She was so enthused about finally going to school after working full time since high school graduation to save up the money to at least get started. She knew she would have to take out loans as well but she also had help from a well loved source.

Her Uncle Jerry lived in the same Midwestern town that the University was located in. They had always been close throughout her childhood, even though Vivian’s family lived some distance away from him. Uncle Jerry and Aunt Carol had a special place in Vivian’s heart and she knew she did in theirs as well. When Aunt Carol had passed away five years ago she knew it left her uncle not only grieving but very lonely. She had made sure to keep in touch and visited him as often as she could. When Vivian had revealed to him her plans for school he enthusiastically offered her free housing. He certainly didn’t like rattling around his house alone and his favorite niece would be more than welcome. 

She remembered the phone conversation vividly.

“Well I don’t know Uncle J, I mean I have never lived on a college campus, it might be fun. You know a new experience.”

“Oh yes I have no doubt it would be that for sure. But sweetie, you don’t need all that nonsense at your age. This is your shot at what you want and I will do all I can to help you. I think a quiet, peaceful place to live will make a world of difference. You can spend lots of time with the new friends you make, but I know you Viv and you will need to focus your attention to keep up with pace of college work. Remember your first year in high school.”

Vivian rolled her eyes as her uncle talked. Oh did she ever remember her freshman year. She had been so taken with the newness of the experience that her classes had taken a back seat to everything else. She had failed two classes that first year. Her parents were beside themselves with worry. They had sent her to summer school to make up the work and hired tutors to help with her studies. But she also remembered her uncle’s response to the situation. When she went there for a visit after summer session both he and Aunt Carol had sat her down for a talk.

The talk had been very stern, but as always kind and loving. They told her they were disappointed in the choices she had made. When she tried to explain that she just needed some extra help her uncle shook his head. “No way sweetie, you are as sharp as they coe. But you have always been easily distracted from your responsibilities and no one has ever taken the time to help you deal with that. You are the sweetest, most loving niece an aunt and uncle could want but you can be very undisciplined about your life. And I love your mom and dad dearly but, Vivian, they have gone too easy on you for too long. I suspect what you need is a long session over a knee with a hairbrush, but I am not your dad and I can’t take away his rights and responsibilities.”

She remembered crying at her uncle’s words and promising to do better. It was also shocking to hear he thought she should be spanked. She had never been spanked and she was way too old for it now. But a certain spark ignited in her mind that was always there from that point on.

And she certainly had done somewhat better once she had learned how to balance her social life and school; everything had worked out just fine. Unfortunately it had not worked out fine enough for her to get any scholarships or grants but her parents were pleased that she never failed another course. Deep down inside she knew that had she put more emphasis on courses and less on socializing her grades could have been top of the line, assuring she would get financial help for college.

But she was determined to go to school and her parents promised to help as much as possible. So Vivian had worked two jobs for the next six years getting the finances together. Both her parents and her aunt and uncle praised her hard work and determination.

And Uncle Jerry’s offer was more than kind and certainly would help with finances since he refused to hear anything about her paying rent, at least in money. He had, however, laid down some conditions. 

“You can help me out around the house, honey, which would be so appreciated. But Vivian I expect you to put the emphasis on your schoolwork. Your parents are investing money they have saved for a long time. You worked your butt off for six years and I don’t want to see that going down the drain. Is that clear?”

Vivian was more than a little surprised at her uncle’s stern tone. After all she was an adult, not a child any longer. But she had agreed to all his terms in a very subdued voice.

First semester had gone just great. Vivian loved the campus and the newness of the environment. Most of her classes were fine, nothing she couldn’t handle. The one math class she had, she worked as hard as possible. It was her most difficult subject. But she was rewarded with a B. All her grades had been A’s and B’s. It was a real toss up to decide who was more excited, her parents or her Uncle. He had hugged her hard, kissed the top of her head, “I knew you could do it sweetie, I knew it.” She basked in his praise.

Unfortunately second semester was not as successful as first semester. First of all, Vivian was developing new friendships. She spent lots of time at campus events and sometimes bar hopping, which she knew her uncle didn’t like. Her classes were ok except for one. She absolutely hated Geology. Why in the world she ever chose it was anyone’s guess. She remembered thinking she had to have another science course to meet her General Education requirements. She had shrugged and just picked it because it sounded less challenging than some of the others. But it turned out to be difficult and boring. She hated even looking at the textbook, much less reading it.

Vivian also started dating Charlie. They had met at the Student Union one day when it was really crowded and he asked if Vivian minded him sharing her table. One look at his smiling face and she hadn’t minded at all. Charlie was an older student too. He was 28 and in graduate school. They had started dating almost immediately and Vivian found herself more and more attracted to him with each date. What was even better was Uncle Jerry totally approved of him and even encouraged the relationship. The two of them got along as if they were old friends. And sometimes Vivian couldn’t help noticing how similar they were.

Charlie also kept at Vivian about her class work. Sometimes this got pretty annoying and so she easily lied, telling him she had aced papers and tests that she had gotten much lower grades on. But she figured it really was none of his business anyway. He also made sure the two of them only went out on the weekends so that she could study during the week. At times he came over to the house, but it was reserved for study dates and Charlie would not give in on that point at all.

And now this had happened. She got in her car and slumped down in the seat. She had just gotten a look at the posted grades. She had gotten one B, two C’s, and she had actually failed Geology. How would she ever explain this to her uncle and her parents, much less Charlie who had been led to believe all her classes were going so well? She laid her head on the steering wheel and let the tears drip down her face. She was so ashamed of what she had done. And now she would certainly have to take an extra summer session course which she was not looking forward too.

She sighed and started the car. She might as well get home and get the bad news over with. She could hardly stand the thought of her Uncle Jerry’s disappointment and disapproval. Her parents would once again be in a panic about how to help her and, worst of all, Charlie would know she had lied to him.

As Vivian pulled into the driveway, her uncle was sitting on the porch with a glass of ice tea. He smiled broadly and waved as she got out of the car, “Hi there sweetie, how was your day.” But his face changed to pure concern as he watched his niece drag her feet across the lawn to the porch. He could see she had been crying and was immediately concerned. “Vivian, what is it, are you hurt? What’s happened? Sit down here.”

Vivian dropped into one of the porch chairs and looked at her uncle with misery in her eyes. “Oh Uncle J, you won’t believe what’s happened. I don’t know how I let it get this far, I surely didn’t mean too. But my grades…..” and she burst into tears.

Her uncle let her cry for a few minutes, “Alright now Viv what about your grades?” I know you have been doing a lot of partying but I assumed you were staying on track. What’s happened?”

She poured out her story of how boring Geology was and how hard it had turned out to be. Finally she got to the point where she had to tell him the final fact. She hung her head in shame as she told him what her grades were. Especially the last one, the F in Geology.

Vivian expected a very stern lecture but instead she looked up to see her uncle with a calm, yet determined look on his face. “Sweetie, I want you to go up to your room, I will be there in a few minutes and we will discuss this.”

Now this was confusing, discuss what. There was nothing to discuss. She couldn’t undo what she had done. Nevertheless she looked at his face and decided not to argue the point. She went up to her room and sat on her bed with a forlorn expression on her face. She knew she also had a date with Charlie tonight and would have to tell him as well.

Soon there was a knock at her bedroom door and Uncle Jerry came in and sat down next to her on the bed. He gave her a hug which she returned. Then he sighed, “Vivian I have just talked to your dad. I told him what happened.” Vivian dropped her head in her hands and groaned. “Honey we both love you but we are very disappointed in what you have let happen.” She was about to protest that it was not her fault but her uncle held up his hand. “Don’t bother Vivian; be honest with yourself and me. You know you failed that class because you didn’t put the effort in and you were distracted with too much socializing. I had hoped Charlie would help you stay on track but I guess he didn’t know what was going on now did he?” Vivian shook her head as her cheeks flamed red. She could never hide a thing from her uncle, well at least not for long.

“I knew this semester was not going as well as the first but I figured you were an adult and could handle the responsibility. I should have kept a closer eye and it’s a shame I didn’t but what’s done is done. Now we have to deal with it. I told your dad what I intended to do and he reluctantly agreed. Of course you are the adult now and the final decision will be yours.”

Vivian was totally confused. “Are you kicking me out Uncle J?” There was a note of panic in her voice. She couldn’t believe he would do that.

“No sweetie I am not, but I am putting a condition on your staying here. First of all you come clean with Charlie, you have been lying to him all semester, secondly you will put your schoolwork first before you go out with friends, and the final condition is that you accept the consequences for what you have done.”

Her face mirrored her confusion. What consequences, the F was the consequence.

Uncle Jerry looked at her quite seriously, just as he had when she had failed those two high school courses. “Vivian the consequence I think you need and deserve is the spanking you have had coming to you for years now.” He sat and let the realization of what he had said sink in. The shock on his nieces face was evident. He knew it would be. But he also understood her very well. He believed this was the help she needed to get back on track.

Vivian gasped. This was an absolutely ridiculous idea. A grown woman being spanked by her uncle? What could he be thinking of? But at the same time she also had a deeper feeling inside of her. She knew she deserved something but was this it? She also knew her uncle loved her unreservedly and was trying to look out for her welfare. But still, spanking? “But Uncle J I have never been spanked, I mean I have been grounded and stuff like that but spanked, that’s for little kids.”

“No that is for anyone who deserves and needs it. And I am convinced you meet both of those qualifications. You wasted precious time and resources, took chances on losing this shot at school you worked so hard for. I want to be sure this doesn’t happen again. So Vivian the choice is yours. You either tell Charlie, live by the rules I set down, and accept this spanking or, honey, you will have to find a room or apartment. I can’t watch you fail and I can’t help if you don’t let me. I’ll give you some time to think it over. Just let me know and we’ll take it from there.” He gave Vivian a hug and left her sitting on the bed in her room.

Her mind was now in turmoil. A spanking? How could she submit to that? But she wondered why she was even considering it. She could have said no immediately. She had to make a decision and make it now. She knew Charlie was coming over tonight and if she agreed to all of this she would have to tell him the truth and he would probably find out what her Uncle had done. Oh what a mess she had made. She held her head in her hands and tried to think.

~o~

I told you it was a good one and we'll have the next part next week. Meanwhile, I hope some of you are thinking of doing a little writing. Send any stories to elisspeaks@yahoo.com

Writing Conference

I tried a writing conference this weekend. It probably was not the best time to go, I came down with a horrible cold late Thursday. I really didn’t feel like driving two hours to my friend’s home and then another hour or so the next morning to the conference, but I’d promised.

The speaker was pretty good, I guess. The first thing she asked was for us to go around the room and tell what we wrote, what genre.  I’m in a room full of strangers, I know only one person and this woman wants me to tell everyone I write spanking stories. Hmm…

I could have said adult romantic comedy. But what the hell, I told them I wrote domestic discipline stories about an older couple. There were grins and a smatter of laughter, but no one was unkind. I listened as some of them talked about writing about strong women and I realized that they had no idea how strong the women we write about are. I found myself wanting to debate them. They seemed to have no trouble accepting the idea of underwater worlds with love triangles, or haunted castles, or paranormal small town romances – but the idea that a strong woman could choose to give to submission to the man she loves and trust was unrealistic.   

There was nothing wrong with the conference, I just felt a little left out. I would love to go to a conference for DD writers and I may look into one after I retire, but I didn’t enjoy the experience enough to give up another weekend right now.      

Fantasy Friday - Consequences

Happy Friday to all! I’m headed out this weekend to my first writing workshop – I guess it’s about time I learned how to write. I’ll tell you about it next week.

Today there is a wonderful brand new Fantasy Friday. Rosie has written for us before, but it’s been a while and I’m so happy to have her next story. You can find her first two stories here and here. To refresh your memory here is the introduction I put for her the first time.

I'm very pleased to he hosting Rosie this week. A little background on Rosie: She and her husband of more than forty years live and enjoy their empty nest in rural England. Although her husband turned down her first request to be spanked decades ago, the recent interest in 50 Shades and good old Sheldon spanking Amy on The Big Bang led him to rethink his initial refusal. I love the way Rosie put it, " Things evolved and a little discipline entered the mix, though we don't 'do' punishment. Mostly I'm spanked just because it makes me happy." I don't guess we could ask for much more than that.

Please enjoy…

Consequences...

“Wakey, wakey, rise and shine. Coffee’s on your table.” Isobel’s eyelids fluttered open in response to her husband’s soft kisses. Harry drew back the curtains, “It’s a lovely day for your outing.”

Isobel stretched lazily. She was looking forward to the day. First she was going into town to buy a new outfit for her niece’s wedding and then she was meeting an old friend for lunch. The only snag was the rendezvous being some distance away on unfamiliar ground. Harry had plotted the route for her and they had gone over it together. If she got really lost she could resort to the maps on her smartphone.

As she was about to leave, she discovered the battery on her mobile phone was in the red zone. Too bad, there was nothing she could do about it now. After kissing Harry goodbye, she said casually, “Don’t worry if you don’t hear from me, my phone battery’s low and might die, so I’ll save it just in case of emergency.” Harry told her to take his car, which had an in-car charger. She refused; she wanted to take her own car. His practical people carrier or her sporty roadster with the roof down? No contest, the sun was shining!

The shopping centre was huge and Isobel had sometimes found herself losing heart in the past, trailing round shop after shop in search of something special. This time, she had booked the services of a personal shopper, who would source a selection of clothing based on the criteria she had supplied by email. She’d also had the foresight to ask her sister for a photo of her outfit beforehand. They had similar tastes and had fallen out many times in their younger days over who was copying whom and she didn’t want to risk upstaging the mother of the bride.

It was wonderful to sit back on a leather couch and have clothing brought to her for selection, though she declined the proffered glass of Champagne. After trying a few outfits she settled on a cream dress patterned with dusky pink roses, with a plain dusky pink jacket to go on top. She had planned to wear a pair of nude, go-with anything, heels but needed no persuading when the assistant produced a pair of sling-backs to match the jacket. A jaunty little hat and she was done. She was looking idly around whilst her purchases were being packed when her eyes lit on a darling handbag. She had a bag at home that would go with her outfit but this little number was calling her name. It was a leather clutch in a pretty green, which would complement the leaves on her dress and provide a pop of colour to contrast with all the pink. With the bag safely stowed alongside the other purchases and her mission accomplished, she walked away with a smile on her face, stress free and ready for the hour and a half journey ahead.

She found her way to the country inn where she was to meet her friend with only one wrong turn along the way. She and Sally hadn’t seen each other in a long while, so they had a lot of catching up to do. The afternoon sped by amid much gossip and laughter and Isobel stayed far longer than she’d intended. She realised she was going to get caught in traffic but, in the flurry of her departure, she forgot to send Harry a text to say she was on her way home. She knew he would be worried but didn’t dare stop to use her phone on the narrow country lanes and, once on the main roads, there was no chance of pulling over.

Back at home, Harry was trying to put dinner together without looking at the clock. He had expected Isobel back long before now and couldn’t help a twinge of anxiety. She was notorious for getting lost and was the first to admit she had no sense of direction. Many years ago they had been shopping in a large department store in London, where she had dithered over buying a handbag. They had just left the shop when she decided she had to have it after all. She told him to wait for her at the door; she would only be a few minutes. Ten minutes passed, then fifteen. He daren’t go and look for her in case she turned up and panicked when he wasn’t there. Finally, she burst through the doors, full of apologies. She had become disorientated and gone out of another set of doors on the opposite side of the store, taking a long time to realise she was on a different street. He had never let her forget that, retelling the tale many times. She still had a thing for handbags. There must be more than thirty in her wardrobe, preserved carefully in their dust bags, only a small number of them ever used. She would take them out from time to time, for the sheer pleasure of owning them. He shook his head, smiling indulgently, before glancing involuntarily at the clock. Where is she?

Harry was putting the finishing touches to dinner when Isobel got home. She dropped her packages in the hallway and rushed towards him, “I’m sorry to be so late home darling, I lost track of time, then got stuck in traffic.’’

He was relieved to see her and resolved not to make a fuss. “I’m glad you’re back, I was worried, you know how easily you get lost,” he said, hugging her tightly. “Did your day go well?”

“Yes, it was lovely. I have the perfect outfit for the wedding, I’m kitted out from top to toe thanks to Sophie, the personal shopper. I’ll give you a fashion show later. I only went wrong once on the way to meet Sally. It was good to see her again, we had so much to talk about and time just ran away with us.”

She looked at Harry’s handiwork on the counter top. “Dinner looks good, is that my favourite dressing you’ve made?”

He smacked her hand away as she made to dip a finger in the bowl. “Go and get washed up while I put your car away, then you can tell me Sally’s news over dinner.”

Harry always put her car in the garage for the sake of its paintwork and Isobel’s peace of mind; she wasn’t confident manoeuvring in small spaces. This time her peace of mind was shattered when she heard the car’s engine fire up and a horrible thought occurred to her. The fuel light was on and Harry was bound to see it. The evening had looked promising until then. There had been no recriminations over her lateness or her dying phone and she’d spotted a bottle of Chablis chilling in a cooler on the counter top. They hadn’t had a falling-out for a while but she knew he would be angry about the low fuel, he’d read her the riot act once before when she’d run out of petrol and had to call him to bail her out with a jerry can. With a sinking heart, she resigned herself to a gloomy night ahead.

Sure enough, Harry came into the house with a face like thunder. “You have no idea what went through my mind when you didn’t get back on time. It’s bad enough that you let your phone battery run down but also you’re nearly out of fuel. What would have happened if you’d run out and your phone was dead? I’m so angry with you, I could tan your hide.”

She took a step backwards in surprise; where had that come from? “But the warning light only came on a few miles back, I wasn’t in any danger,” she protested, his anger putting her on the defensive.

“That was more by luck than judgment. Another wrong turn and the outcome might have been very different.”

“I’m sorry darling, I know you were worried but I’m back safe and sound, no harm done. Let’s not spoil the evening by arguing, please.”

“You don’t seem to realise how serious this might have been. You could have been stranded in the middle of nowhere. I should have insisted you took my car instead of letting you go off without a functioning phone.”

“But I wanted to take my car. It was a lovely sunny day and I wanted to show it off to Sally. You couldn’t force me to take yours, it was my choice.”

“It was a bad choice and I shouldn’t have let it happen. I’m as angry with myself as I am with you.”

“Well, go ahead then, spank me if it will make you feel better!” she flung at him, temper flaring.

“You know what? I’ve a good mind to do just that but I need to cool off and you need to think where your carelessness could have got you. In fact, why don’t we do it the traditional way? Go upstairs, take off your jeans and knickers and stand in the corner between the wardrobe and the dresser. You can do your thinking there.”

She stared at him in disbelief. “You have got to be joking, you don’t seriously expect me to stand in the corner like a naughty child do you?”

“That’s exactly what I expect you to do, right now.”

Throwing him a mutinous stare, she flounced off to their bedroom and leant back against the door. “I won’t do it!” she thought, “It’s ridiculous.”

But what was the alternative? If she defied him it would stoke up his anger again and they could be going round in circles all night. Sighing, she slipped off her shoes and peeled off her jeans and knickers, before reluctantly making her way to the corner, where she stood with her arms at her sides, fists tightly clenched. It was humiliating standing there naked from the waist down and she wished she’d worn a longer shirt that covered her bottom.

“But you deserve it,” a little voice in her head told her. “You put swanning around in your fancy drop-top above Harry’s peace of mind and your own safety.”

As she breathed a heavy sigh her tension evaporated and her fingers unfurled. The little voice was right; she deserved it. She wasn’t afraid of a spanking; they had been spicing up their love life that way for some time. Harry spanked pretty hard anyway, so how bad could it be?

She heard him come through the door and turned towards him. “Nose back in the corner until I’m ready for you,” he said, in a voice she scarcely knew. She could hear him moving about near the bed and recognised the sound of the toy box being opened. Well, she had expected the paddle, no surprise there.

He picked up the throw from the armchair, folding it over the footboard and placing a pillow over the top.

“Come here.”

His stern demeanour unnerved her and made the three short steps to the bed feel as though she were walking in treacle.

“Why am I going to spank you?”

“Because I deserve it,” she faltered.

“Indeed you do but I’m looking for a more specific answer.”

She’d had plenty of time in the corner to think about that. “Because I didn’t make sure my phone battery was charged before I went out and I let my fuel run low, putting myself in danger.” 

“I want to make sure that doesn’t happen again,’’ he said, patting the pillow. “Bend over the bed.”

Harry had always admired his wife’s shapely bottom and the sight of her creamy globes stretched tautly over the pillow almost weakened his resolve.  The thought of her stranded at the roadside at the mercy of heaven knows who or what swiftly brought it back.

Isobel yelped involuntarily at the first crack of leather on flesh. Subconsciously, she had been expecting the rubbing and squeezing that usually preceded a spanking.  As the second smack fell she realised there was to be no warm up either.  Soon, Harry had covered every inch of her bottom and Isobel began making little mewling sounds of protest as the sting intensified. A smack on the top each thigh taught her not to reach back to relieve her smarting dérrière.

Harry continued to apply the paddle until he had turned her bottom a hot crimson and her loud protests had turned to sobs. He wasn’t enjoying the experience any more than she was but wanted to make sure he didn’t have to repeat the lesson any time soon. He remembered her wooden hairbrush, left out on the chest of drawers behind him. “Don’t move,” he told her, turning round to pick it up.

“Hold on to a pillow Bella, I don’t want your hands getting in the way.” As the brush came down hard on her sit spots she wriggled and squirmed, trying to move away but he held her in place with a hand in the small of her back.

“Harry, please, it hurts.”

“It’s supposed to hurt,” came the time-honoured response.

“No, please stop, I can’t...” she broke off as her body sagged and she began to sob in earnest.

“Six more, then we’re done.”

Measuring the spanks slowly so she felt the full effect of each one, he brought the brush down six more times, before tossing it aside and telling her it was all over. He helped her up, pulling her into his arms.

“I love you so much Bella, I don’t know what I’d do if I lost you,” he told her, stroking her back until the sobs subsided.

“I’m so sorry,” she quavered, gulping back tears, “I know that was hard for you too. I promise not to be so careless again.”

“I’m going to help you with that,” he said, lifting her chin, “I’m making some rules. In future, you are not to go out without your phone being fully charged and you are not to let your fuel tank get below a quarter full. Breaking a rule will earn an appointment with the hairbrush.”

Isobel was tempted to ask him who he was and what he had done with her husband but, with her backside already on fire, she thought better of it. Instead, rubbing her bottom ruefully, she asked him whether they could eat dinner in the kitchen as the chair cushions were softer there than in the dining room.

“Oh, I think I can allow that just this once,” he said, smiling.  “Let’s get you dressed in something comfortable, dinner’s waiting and the wine should be well chilled by now.”

The evening was looking promising after all, though they’d have to take a rain check on the fashion show.

~o~

Thank you so much Rosie! I really enjoyed your story very much and I'm so happy you were willing to write for us again. I hope you'll keep in touch. If anyone else is willing to share a story with us please send it to elisspeaks@yahoo.com

Ella's husband meme

Ella took the time to create a meme where we can find out more about each other's fellows. Thanks Ella, this has been fun. Here's what I can tell you about Nick.

1.  Name a favorite movie of his.  Do you like it, too?  If he doesn't have a favorite movie, substitute a TV series.

I asked Nick this fully knowing the answer, “I don’t do favorites.” He doesn’t like to seem movies over very often. But he did enjoy Forrest Gump and on TV he watches things like ‘Naked and Afraid’ and he has to watch them without his lovely wife.

2.  Tell us something you cook or bake that gets him so happy.  Do you add something special that makes your recipe unique?

I really don’t cook.  I can if I have to, but I hate doing it. So when I do break down and do it he always seems happy with anything I come up with.

3.  What does he wear to bed?

A t-shirt always and sometimes boxers, usually lately he doesn’t bother with the boxers.

4.  Does he have or has he ever grown a beard or mustache?  Did you (or do you) like it or not?

I’ve never seen Nick without a beard and I don’t want to. It used to be a full beard and several years ago he went with a goatee. I love it, it tickles in all the right places.

5.  If they were going to make a movie of your husband, what actor would you pick to play him?

I think Clint Eastwood a few years ago.

6.  Who is neater around the house, you or him?  Then give us a sloppy example.

Nick is way neater than I am. I leave cups sitting on my table and clothing at the foot of the bed. Suddenly I’m not coming off very good – I don’t cook or clean, great wife so far.

7.  If you could buy him tickets to any concert (even if it's from the past), what musician or group would be singing or playing?

Again, he doesn’t do favorites, but I think he would enjoy seeing many band from our youth – the Beetles, the Doors, the Stones, and Fleetwood Mac.

8.  Does he wear a wedding ring?  Do you care?

No, he never has and I don’t care a bit. I, on the other hand have only had mine off for surgery and Nick’s always been the one to take it off and put it back on.

9.  How old was he and how old were you on the day you met?  What else do you remember about that day?

Nick was twenty-nine and I was twenty-four. We had actually been in the same room several times together, but hadn’t ‘met’. And each of those times he was with a date. But we met at a birthday party for a friend and really enjoyed talking.

10.  If he is the one to choose an ethnic restaurant for dinner out, would it be Chinese, Indian, Mexican, French, Italian, Greek, or ...........?

I think he would choose Mexican – it’s okay, but not my favorite.

11.  Is there a photo of him as a child that you find especially endearing?  Tell us about it.

There are very few photos of him but they are all cute.

12.  If you were going to choose a dress in a color just to please him, what color would it be?

We’re back to the no favorites, I imagine any color dress would stun him since I haven’t had one on in over twelve years.

13.  Do you (or did you) love his mother?  Why or why not?

I love her very much. She’s ninety now and she’s having problems. She can’t hear, and her memory loss is becoming severe. But she has always treated me with love and kindness.

14.  Name a famous person he really admires.

He’s never mentioned anyone, but I feel it would be someone like Mother Theresa – someone with no possible hidden agenda.  

15.  How does your husband take his coffee or tea?

He doesn’t drink coffee, and like any good southern he drinks his tea sweet and on ice.

16.  Does your man know how to dance? 

No, neither of us can really dance, but we still do occasionally.