Angie asks: "What are Gary's most redeeming qualities, and what's the nicest thing he's ever done for you?"

Well, Gary's redeeming qualities are the same as his annoying qualities.

He's emotional: I never go a day without hearing Gary say "I love you."
He's open: I never have to ask "Penny for your thoughts."
He's unconcerned with money: We don't fight about money, and I don't think we would even if we had the same account.
He makes decisions slowly: He does take his time with decisions, and never makes a decision without talking it through with me.
He apologizes: Almost every fight lasts 20 minutes, because Gary comes in an apologizes, even if it wasn't entirely his fault.

I think if I had to pick one thing that was the nicest thing ever: well, though the forty flowers on my fortieth birthday was nice (boys, start saving up), I think the episode in the bookstore was nicest. It was the first weekend I was out of the hospital after being diagnosed with MS. Gary had followed me into Borders berating, "Why would you want to buy books on MS? They'll just tell you things you don't want to know and fill your head with scary things that are never going to happen to you! This is morbid! This is a really bad idea! Seriously, stop this!" Eventually I whirled around and snapped that reading is how I deal with things, and if he didn't want to help then I would just deal with this alone. He stomped off, but when I found the MS books he was there. He didn't see me, but he was asking an employee, "Do you have any other books on this topic?"

I suppose I liked it because he chose what I wanted over the voices of doom in his head. Sweet!

Comments

[Becs]

I heart Gary.

[Angie]

...and now I am in love with Gary. :) Vicariously of course.

[Catherine]

That is awesome. Gary wins, and so do you.

[Queen Mother]

You forgot the part about how good he is to your Mum.

[styro]

I <3 Gary. What a good dude.

[Sherri]

Ok, those things definitely weigh heavily in Gary's favor, even against manic fear of a dogpee floor and pictures of Poo.

They all have something like that going for them. Mine can annoy the crap out of me with little things like his fear of the garbage can, his belief that I can psychically hear the plans he's thinking about, and his tendency to eat the last of whatever is around without either asking if I want some or taking the empty box/container out of the pantry/refrigerator OR putting it on the grocery list.

At the same time, he will jump out of bed in an instant when I wake at 4 am with a screaming leg cramp and massage that leg until I can breathe again, and then he will get back in bed and cuddle me until I go to sleep. No bitching, no complaining, not even a little nag the next morning. Gotta love him.

[Marriage-101]

Gary is a stud.

[Sarah]

You go, Gary!

My husband is from a different country where they speak a whole different language. I have never heard the words "I'm sorry" come out of his mouth ever. Not once. In any language. Not even pig latin.

[Friend #3]

Made me tear up a bit. Very sweet hubby you have there. :-)

[TheQueen]

All - I told Gary via email of his remarkable Internet popularity. His response, via email:

"I will always be beloved because I am silent, like a dog."

I am fairly sure he means "silent" as in "not defending myself when my wife ridicules me."