Back in 1973 my wife was looking for the perfect gift for me for Christmas. She always shopped early, instead of waiting until the last minute. Usually she had everything wrapped up by the week after Thanksgiving.

She looked and looked, going to every shopping mall in Austin. She thought, “it isn’t easy buying for the man that has everything”. I was 21 years old with lots of money to throw around (Cough…Cough…Cough) so I had a habit of buying whatever I wanted, leaving nothing for her to buy me.

I don’t remember exactly what I received that year for Christmas but I’m sure it was something nice and appreciated.

But walking through the mall one day, she thought “I’m not going to face this dilemma when it comes to his birthday the next August”. So she went to work and knowing something unique that she could handcraft like no one else could and would be a gift of a lifetime.

She worked on it everyday day for months. No matter how cold the January and February days were or how sweltering the July and August days were, she continued to craft this very special gift.

Lo and Behold on the very morning of my 22nd birthday on August 22, 1974 she declared that my special present was ready to be delivered.

Later that day at 2:26 PM I was handed the most wonderful gift I’d ever received, a first born son. Matthew Wayne Lewis.

But like all things, as fun as that was, having my son born on my birthday, I knew it was too hard for her to always meet actual dates like that. So we struck a deal. I told her to make me a son every 2 to 3 years, at least until we had a sufficient work crew that could help me to earn a living. And knowing that would eventually lead to plenty of daughter in laws, to help take care of us in our twilight years.

Just like clock work, the sons kept coming, after the first one in 1974, another in 1977, then again in 1979, but by 1982 she was ready to get to the end of child birthing, so she presented us with a pair of them. I didn’t object to stopping at five, knowing she had done her best to please.

Of course so much of what I have written here has been in jest, but for the most part there is some truth woven throughout it. And for all of it I couldn’t be more thankful.

During our bargaining session for having plenty of boys, I ask that she always make cute kids, and with that she complied so well.

Of course having good looking son’s , lead to a beautiful crop of grandchildren.