The woman who couldn't remember her husband's birthday

I heard a story about a woman who couldn't remember her husband's birthday. She'd been married before, and her previous husband had liked it very much when she celebrated his birthday in a big way, with balloons, candles, a big cake, special food that he loved, and friends and family. She always bought him a memorable gift. He would remind her months ahead of time that his birthday was coming and what he expected to get for a present, so she never forgot his birthday, ever, and years of marriage cemented his birthday in her head.

That marriage ended badly, and her new husband was different. He thought that since she loved him, she would remember his birthday -- and she did, she thought -- but she was remembering her first husband's birthday, which didn't come until later in the year. He was devastated that she hadn't thought of him, and so was she by his sadness. She vowed she wouldn't forget his birthday again.

A few months later she was looking at the calendar, and next week's date jumped out at her. His birthday! She wasn't going to forget this time. She ordered a cake, all the special foods she was sure he would like because her first husband had like them, bought candles, balloons, and an extra special gift, and invited friends who were ready to surprise him when he walked in the door.

"Surprise!" They all shouted. And was he ever surprised!

"What's going on?" he asked.

"Happy birthday!" they all shouted.

"But it's not my birthday," he said.

"But it is," protested his wife "See the calendar? I marked it right here."

"But that's not my birthday," he said. But the food was there, the friends were there, and the gifts were there, so the party went on. He watched his wife and friends have his birthday party on his not-birthday.

After that experience, he thought maybe she would remember. He mentioned several times that his day was coming. She nodded and smiled, but it seemed she wasn't paying much attention. When his real birthday rolled around, there was no party, even though he had marked it on the calendar. She still had her first husband's birth date firmly fixed in her mind, and it was hard to make room for the new date.

Again there was a big party on his not-birthday, and she jokingly said, "This is such a good time of year for your birthday, don't you think? We'll just celebrate it every year at this time." He was sad again, both on his real birthday and on his not-birthday. How could she really love him if she kept celebrating her first husband's birthday instead of his? 

A new year came, his real birthday passed unnoticed, and when his not-birthday party was celebrated, he wasn't there.