Nick had heard that the Riverwalk gets decorated with lights this time of year, so in the evening when he was done with work, we bundled up and headed downtown. I had heard rumors that some evenings there were Christmas carolers as well. We walked a long ways--and, man!, the lights are beautiful! I hope that when my parents come we can take a walk there in the evening. We stopped at the Riverwalk Starbucks and had a coffee and then turned around to head back to the car. Lottie was oblivious: tucked in a snowsuit and riding in an infant carrier on my front.
About halfway back to the starting point I spotted a boat with carolers. The Riverwalk has all these boats--something like pontoons--that take people on tours. We've always wanted to ride on a boat, but they are pricey. Anyway, I insisted that we head over to listen to the carolers. Well, the portion of me that is directly related to my Mom and my Auntie Sharon (Lottie's godmother) took over the moment we reached the boat. And, to make a long story short, the good folks from Bulvedere United Methodist Church invited us on the boat to continue caroling with them. We got a free boat ride! All we had to do was sing along!! It was wonderful!
I taught them a favorite Christmas song ("Come On Ring Those Bells...."). Only one other person on the boat had ever even heard the song before! Mommy, I gave you credit for teaching us more songs than we'd ever be able to count. Nick explained that as we spoke Nathan was being inundated with Granny music. =) It was a great evening.
One of the greatest sights of the evening was a boat full of nuns taking a tour of the Riverwalk. They were smiling and waving and seemed oblivious when I demanded Nick photograph them (it was terribly rude of us, I know, but it made such a good picture...which, ironically didn't turn out. Nick tells me a flash would have helped, but then we would have been so incredibly obvious!). Anyway, so there are all these nuns on the boat and one of them--this totally cracked me up--has a reindeer-antler headband on top of her habit. It was hilarious! Nick was reminded, as I'm asking him to take pictures of innocent nuns and insisting he loudly carol along with strangers, that I have very little shame. I think he loves me anyway. He admitted the nuns were entertaining. And he really enjoyed his free boat ride. Not all my ideas are so warmly received.
A couple days ago we got our weekly ads in the mail. I always look through these and cut out coupons (which I don't use). But on the very last page I found a coupon from McDonald's for a free, no strings attached, gourmet coffee. I was very pleased. And then, this fabulous idea dawned on me: There is a trash can right by all the mailboxes where most people just chuck their ads. I figured there would probably be 30 unclaimed free coffee coupons in that trash can. "Nick! I'm going to go down to the trash and get the free coffee coupons!" I got 'the look.'
"Seriously?"
"Yea! People always throw away those ads." Nick's 'look' gets even more intense.
In the end (what a good husband), Nick went down to the trash and got some of the coupons for me. He said there was more dignity in a man going through the trash can. I'm smiling. What a nice guy!
1 comment:
I'd say that was going above and beyond, Nicolas ... ! Very kind of you. :) Thanks for sharing the lights and cool boat ride with the nuns too.
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