An odd but perfect gift

One day when all was right with the world, Martin was driving, as the police like to say, in excess of the posted speed limit. For the 12 millionth time in our marriage, I said, "Honey, you need to slow down." He finally confessed, "I like to speed. No, I LOVE to speed."

So I saved up and for his 70th birthday I bought him The Richard Petty Driving Experience, where you put the pedal to the metal on a NASCAR racetrack. 

The drive was delayed two years due to inclement weather on our chosen dates, but the third time was a charm for so many reasons. Among them: Fourteen months later Martin wouldn't be able to recall the words to "Jingle Bells" so a driving experience with Miss Daisy, let alone Mr. Petty, wasn't gonna happen.

Here is a beaming Martin following the completion of his laps at the New Hampshire Motor Speedway. No matter how many gifts I give during my lifetime, this will always be my favorite.