What Erma Bombeck and Elephants Have in Common

posted by Momo Fali on April 19, 2012

Tomorrow is my husband’s 41st birthday, so I’m giving him the best gift I could think of; I’m going out of town.

I feel a lot of guilt about this. Tons of guilt. Like, there is an elephant named Guilt sitting on my chest. Too much?

I will be attending the Erma Bombeck Writer’s Workshop at the University of Dayton. There will be a lot of intelligent, hilarious women in attendance and I hear that, as far as humor writing workshops go, it’s the best. Not to mention that Erma Bombeck is my idol. *watches 20-something readers flee*

This workshop only comes around every other year and I spent two years waiting for them to release the 2012 dates. I couldn’t wait! And, when they did, I saw that the workshop fell smack-dab on my husband’s birthday. Dang the bad luck!

So, why am I talking about Erma Bombeck on my husband’s birthday? Because he is so unselfish, that he is giving me this gift. He does that a lot. For the last five years I have gone about living my dream, and before that I was able to stay home and raise our children; all while he plugs along at a thankless, commissioned, sales job in the mortgage business.

Yeah, meet my elephant.

This man has been faithful to our vows and has been true to me in good times and in bad, in sickness and in health, for richer or for poorer, and he’s one of the most generous guys I know.

Don’t get me wrong, my husband is a grumpy, cynic. He is stubborn and, oh my goodness, does he like to be right. But, guess what? I’m not perfect either. Please see aforementioned in sickness and in health thing. Plus, I’ve gained so much weight since we got married that it’s possible you could mistake me for my elephant.

He is frequently funny, sometimes romantic, and always supportive. Not many men would say, “Honey, I’m going to the office, you just stay home and blog.” Go ahead and tell me that isn’t the sexiest thing you’ve ever heard. *swoon*

So, while I’m off gallivanting through Dayton (to the extent that one can gallivant through small, Ohio towns) my husband will be shuffling the kids to and from school, softball and church and eating the day-old cake I made him. I hope he has a great day despite my absence, or even because of it (read: tossing cake, eating cookies that our friend always makes him).

Happy birthday, Dado Fali! Thank you for making my dreams come true.

    Comments

  • Vicki


    This is the sweetest thing I’ve ever heard. Have fun Diane!!

  • Melisa


    Happy, happy birthday Dado Fali!

  • Amie


    You didn’t make him a vegan banana chocolate chip cake, did you?!?

    • Momo Fali


      I will never live those cookies down.

  • Jennifer


    Lucky, lucky girl. An awesome partner and the Erma Bombeck workshop. I can relate to the elephant. I’ve got a good husband too. He brings home the bacon so I can write. I am missing his 40th bday so I can work at the Olympics this summer (for no money). Is it a room of one’s own or a supportive partner that makes writing possible? There are women who do it with neither and I am in awe of them. I really appreciate both. I’d love to hear about the workshop! Enjoy! Happy Bday to your wonderful man!

  • Julie Ott


    I’m willing to eat birthday cake with you in Dayton, if required. Just sayin’!

  • Liz


    Awwww, Happy Birthday DadoFali (love that!) I’m gonna Google more about this awesome workshop. Erma Bombeck was and still is the bomb in my book!

    • Momo Fali


      Well, it’s no San Diego, but Dayton will have to do. If you check into the workshop, just know it sells out in a couple of days!

  • Liz


    P.S. Have fun!!!!

  • Patty at A Day in My NYC


    Happy Birthday Dado Fali! πŸ™‚
    What a fantastic guy…well he also has a fantastic girl!

  • Joni


    Awwww, wish Mikey a happy birthday for me!!! You can make it up to him soon!!

  • lceel


    I used to LOVE Irma Bombeck – she and Totie Fields and Margaret Cho are my favorite comediennes. Oh.. And Lily Tomlin. And Tina Fey. And Jane Curtin.

    Anyway, I used to hear her on the radio, see her on TV, and read her in the Chicago Sun-times. And I would read her books. She was everywhere.

    And she was very, very, VERY funny.

  • meleah rebeccah


    Awwww! Momo!

    Happy 41st birthday, Dado Fali!

    πŸ™‚

  • Zak


    Happy Birthday!

  • Rhea


    He’s a keeper!

  • Melanie


    First, happy birthday to your sweetie.
    Second, I didn’t realize the E.B. workshop was only once every two years. Darn.
    I’m really going to try to get to the next one, so hope to meet you there! Have a wonderful time. I know you’ll take us there in some blog posts when you return!

  • Jean Parks


    Your husband sounds like a prince.. but you are a very special lady & you deserve that kind of loyalty & devotion. I’m sure you return his love 1,000 times over.

  • dusty earth mother


    Is he happy to have you back? πŸ™‚

  • Alexandra


    And whoda thought that when you made plans to go to Dayton that you’d end up the subject of somebody’s ON STAGE COMEDY ROUTINE???

    (life is absurdly wonderful)

    Loved being able to hug you, see you, sharing a tear over our sons together when Matt Bombeck spoke.

    xo

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