Birthday follow-up

After yesterday's post, I feel the need to clarify something. This is probably going to come across as defensive, but honestly? I don't care.

Here's the thing. When Torsten and I were discussing what to do for his birthday, it was not a case of him telling me that he would like to spend the day at home and me insisting that NO WE MUST GO OUT FOR IT IS YOUR BIRTHDAY AND LO, THIS MEANS WE SHALL LEAVE THE HOUSE.

No, he was ALSO interested in doing something special, but ALSO couldn't think of what that might be.

As well-intentioned as it might be, I do not think that it is thoughtful or caring to plan a big birthday event for someone who doesn't want one. What I DO think is thoughtful is listening to someone and really HEARING them when they tell you what they want or need.

SO. If Torsten wanted to stay home on his birthday, even if I were strongly opposed to such an idea (which I am not), we would freaking stay home on his birthday. Because it's HIS birthday.

But he doesn't want to stay home on his birthday. And some of you guys had some great suggestions about brewery tours. We had also thought of that, but he's done so many of those already (especially when his best friend was visiting) that it didn't seem like it would be that special.

But! I did have a brain wave yesterday, and thought of the perfect thing to do: visit a goat farm! For those of you who have only started reading this blog more recently, a quick background: Torsten grew up near a goat farm, always went there as a child to feed them and pet them, and still retains his love for them. Due to this, as a joke, I got him a goat-shaped groom's cake last year.

We've been to goat farms before. But he can never get enough of goats. Seriously, ever.

Of course, I wanted this to be a surprise, but apparently, either he is psychic or I somehow gave it away, because this is the conversation we had when I thought of it:

Me: I just thought of the perfect thing to do on your birthday!
Him [out of NOWHERE I SWEAR]: Is it a visit to a goat farm?!
Me: HOW DID YOU KNOW?

I was just so unprepared for him to guess it that I was not quick enough on my feet to bluff. So, the surprise is ruined. However, it is still the perfect birthday activity for him. And I am not even kidding when I say that he will very likely insist on framing some of the goat photos we take at the farm and hanging them prominently in our home.

Luckily, I went into this marriage with my eyes wide open.