Today is my sweet husband's birthday. I was a bit puzzled as to what to do. Leave it out of blog world? Casually mention it and put a funny childhood photo? Blah blah blah. I decided to do a re-post of something I wrote back in March about how Andrew Henry (not my husband's real name) got his name because it just seemed right. If you've read it before - forgive, if not, hope you enjoy...
I've been asked more than a few times now about why I call my husband Andrew Henry. Here's the story - literally.
I'm a reader. Love books. Haven't always been this way. I was read to as a child and enjoyed it. Loved those Miss Piggle Wiggle books (anyone?). I didn't really read much by myself and by the time I got into Junior High, I was out completely. Other than required reading, I read maybe 2 books in all of high school. Sad, but true.
I probably got back into reading when my daughter was little. The girl is a bibliophile of the likes I've never known. I'm sure there are people who have read more books than she, but I've never met them. There are a few books from my childhood I do remember loving and this gem was one of them (obviously because I still have it).
Andrew Henry was a boy who liked to build things. He went to the woods and built himself a playhouse of sorts. Other children began to wander out to the meadow and he built them their own playhouse as well. Each one suited to the child's interests. I SO wanted him to build me my own playhouse. I really, really wanted to climb inside this book. I loved Andrew Henry. I wanted to marry Andrew Henry.
I had forgotten about this book until a few years ago. We bought a "tear down" house and started a remodel. My husband did a huge amount of the work himself. He slaved on this house after work and on weekends for 5 years. We lived out of boxes and while looking through one of them I came across my old friend, Andrew Henry. I opened it up, saw this, and EUREKA!
It came back to me in a flash. A memory I had tucked away somewhere and completely forgotten about (it's pretty messy up there folks). There he was. The boy I so loved. Standing ready with saw in hand. Waiting to build me my castle. A feeling came over me, seriously, like I was so overcome with emotion, I got teary. I DID marry Andrew Henry. Let me tell you people - this looks like my husband. From that moment on, we have called him Andrew Henry. That IS my husband - and in a way, THIS is me. This is who I wanted to be when I first read the book.
My Andrew Henry built me more than a playhouse. My Andrew Henry built me more than a castle. My Andrew Henry built me a home. I felt like I made it happen. My 8 year old self hugged that book and wished for that boy and one day, many moons later, he knocked on my door. I put it out into the universe about a million years ago and it came to me. I believe we all have that power people. Put it out there for yourself. Tell God, or the Universe, or the Trees, whatever it is you believe in, whisper in it's ear.
Side note: I have since framed these two images and they hang in my kitchen as a reminder to ask for what I want in life and in some way, it will come me.
Happy Birthday Baby!
