Husband of the Year

To The “Husband of the Year Deliberations Committee”:

I would like to formally nominate my hubby, Jojo, for 2006 Husband of the Year. I know this entry may be premature since there are still 7 & a half months to go before year-end. But believe me when I tell you that your search is over and you can be assured you have a winner here!

Let me explain.

My hubby has always been pretty wonderful. Very supportive, extremely hardworking, quite thoughtful and super dedicated. But the last three days, he has gone above and beyond the call of duty and has really put into action his vow of “in sickness and in health”.

I’ve been down with the worst case of flu known to man. Either I’m getting older or the flu virus has developed a new strain (probably both), but I was really, really, really O-U-T of it the last 3 days. (I’m not 100% ok yet but am much better).

It started Wednesday afternoon with a scratchy throat and feeling very tired. I wanted to get some rest but I had stuff to finish at work and a three-hour class that night. I got home with a splitting headache and went to bed without having any dinner. Thursday morning was crazy, I had a fever and chills at the same time, but had to deliver a 2-hour outplacement workshop in L.A. I couldn’t drive myself to the client, and frankly, don't remember much about what happened at the workshop. I can barely remember what I said to the participants but I do remember that Jojo drove me to and from the client site in between going to his office. Once I got home around noon, I was asleep before my head hit the pillow, while Jojo had to rush back to work – most likely having his lunch in the car. I had a 2:00 pm conference call that day, and my hubby had thoughtfully set our alarm to wake me 5 minutes before so I wouldn’t sound like I had just gotten out of bed when I took the call (I still did though). Beyond that, I slept for about 8 hours straight and woke to a bowl of chicken noodle soup and apple juice that my hubby prepared.

Friday, was pretty much the same. I was asleep most of the day. Although Jojo thoughtfully made sure that before he left for work, I had my medicine, juice, tissue box, eye drops, cellphone, and inhaler all within reach. He would call every 4 hours (like clockwork) to remind me to take my medicine, eat something, and get rest. And he was home at exactly 7 pm to make me vegetable soup for dinner, empty my wastebasket, and replenish my empty juice bottle.

If that doesn’t get him the award, consider this. Every time I would so much as shift in my sleep, he would be instantly awake and make sure I was ok. The slightest whisper of his name and he would be alert even if it was just me asking him to scratch my back or untangle the comforter under him. He would obligingly turn on his bedside lamp if I needed to go the restroom (even if we have a nightlight on) and I had a lamp on my side of the bed too. He would wake me at 2 am and remind me to take my medicine and he would get up to bring me a glass of warm water whenever I had a coughing spell. This from a guy who needs three sets of alarms in the morning to get himself out of bed.

I’m telling you, this was above and beyond his husbandly duties. Believe me when I say I am not exactly Miss Congeniality when I’m sick. I am NOT an easy patient to take care of. I alternate between bouts of self-pity, extreme crankiness, and unusual amounts of laziness. But did my sad spells and orneriness, get to my hubby? Not at all. We are talking about a man who exhibited the patience of Job. He would take no offense to my whining, complaining, and give in to my brattiest demands. He is truly amazing.

To top it off, this whole weekend, while being my on-call nurse, he has done all the household chores that need to be done (in anticipation of my family’s arrival). He has laundered sheets, towels, blankets. He (with the help of Tito Dan) has set up the new stainless steel oven we purchased last week. He has gone to the grocery for juice, cough drops and fruits. He has done my laundry and folded the clothes away. He has made tinola (homemade chicken soup) the way my mom did when I was sick. And he has allowed me to watch every sweet sappy romantic movie on the Lifetime Channel – not complaining that he missed his Saturday morning shows.

And so, now that I am back from the dead (although still a bit woozy), I want to thank him for being the bestest husband ever and to assure him that I’m not usually the Bride of Frankenstein when I get sick (it’s this new virus strain, I tell you!). And that I am grateful for what he has done and is still doing (he’s actually tidying up the kitchen as I type this). In my defense, I AM still sick.

So, Committee Members, I urge you, no, I demand you to give him the Husband of the Year award or else I’ll be sure to pass this flu virus on to each one of you!