To me, it felt like I'd found a wonderful, beautiful, vibrant woman, and I wanted to do whatever I could to make her stay with me. So still, to this day more than 10 years later, my job and my joy is to provide emotional support, lots of love and affection, financial security, and sometimes presents like this ...

Deb's new bathrobe. She's been wanting a lightweight bathrobe for about two years now, and finally she found one she liked and wanted in the Land's End catalog. So I bought it for her (after about 50 reminders that I had promised to buy it for her).

Deb: Honey, did you order my robe yet?
Badsnake: No.
Deb: Are you going to order it?
Badsnake: Yes.
Deb: Will you order it today?
Badsnake: Okay.
Deb: Gosh, I'm being awfully ... um ... (trying to think of word)
Badsnake: Pushy?
Deb: *excellent consternation expression* Persistent.

It's not that I'm a tightwad. Okay, it's not JUST that I'm a tightwad. Hell, I made my last tube of hair get last for over a year. I am not exaggerating. But, like most guys, I don't like to buy stuff unless it's toys for myself, like cameras and CompactFlash cards. I don't like to shop for clothes for myself or anyone else. But sometimes you have to bite the bullet.

The catalog says its color is coral sunset. It's pink. Even pinker than Deb thought it would be. And I have to squelch my butch instincts and let something this pink live in my house. But that's okay. 'Cause it's pretty on her and she likes it. That, my friends, is the secret.