It was a warm, balmy evening in Cape Town. A bunch of us students decided to get together after supper to have a jam session: me on the piano, one friend on the recorder and another on guitar.
We gathered in our university residence hall, took our respective places and began our gig with a noisy rendition of Hey Jude! We’d each invited some friends to join us, and they trickled into the hall one by one. Among them was a barefoot and gorgeous dark-haired student in grampa vest and jeans. I noticed his deep, dark eyes and as I looked at him, I was overwhelmed with the knowledge that he was part of my future.
So began a beautiful relationship that has so far lasted over 30 years, 27 years of which have been as husband and wife. Heck, was he ever part of my future. He still is.
Happy birthday, Mr Sunshine, I’m so glad you love music.
Sunshine signing off for today!
Sunshine in London 
Beautiful, happy birthday to him 🙂
I remember barefoot guys in grandpa vests …
Thank you, Cindy! Yes, that look was pretty cool back in the day … and today! 🙂
I remember those times well (could we ever forget) – you both deserve each other so much, you are the best birthday present Ringo could ever get Ruthi.
Lots of Love
Pete
Ah, Pete – I’m so glad you read this, given that you were the guitarist friend I mention! Thank you so much – what a lovely thing to say. Love to you both on that beautiful island xx
What a beautiful love story! Happy Birthday, and Good Day, Mr. Sunshine from all of Little Ms. Sunshine’s fans. 🙂
Thank you, Monica – special, hey?
BEAUTIFUL!
🙂 Mandy
Thanks, Mandy. Your Petie was part of the picture, all those years ago! xx
Happy Birthday to Mr Sunshine! Hope you two have a wonderful celebration today.
Thanks so much, Lisa
How lovely!
It would have been my Dad’s 75th birthday today.
Ah, thank you, Tilly – and special hugs for what would have been your dad’s big day too.
Happy Birthday Mr Sunshine! I was struck by the description that the future-to-be Mr Sunshine was barefooted. There’s something sacred about a happy marriage that lasts for 27 years – it’s like he was walking onto holy ground. Have a wonderful day, and a wonderful future together.
Thank you so much – what a lovely thought!
Happy Birthday to one very lucky dude! And, where is the photo???
Thank you, Renee! I would have posted a photo if I was allowed to …
Happy Birthday Mr. Sunshine. It love the picture in my mind of the music trio and you walking in. Sunshine does such a wonderful job of painting pictures with her words. Have a lovely day you two!
Thank you, Jeanne – it was a fun way to meet all those years ago!
Happy Birthday Mr. Sunshine. I love the story about how you met. Today is also my dad’s birthday (84).
Thanks, Darlene – I love the story too! 🙂 Happy birthday to your dad – my dad will be 88 on Thursday!
Happy birthday to your Dad. My Mom’s birthday is Saturday! May is the month for birthdays! lol!
Indeed, Darlene – my mom had hers this month too!
“HEY JUDE!”
I can hear you all singing. How lovely 🙂
I don’t know if you really wanted to hear us singing, kim – we made a noise and it was fun! 🙂
Oooh, HAPPY BIRTHDAY!
Thanks, I’ll pass on the wishes!
What a wonderful post! Happy birthday to that barefoot Mr. Sunshine!
Kathy
I’ll tell him – thank you, Kathy!
Beautiful! Sounds like you and Mr. Sunshine are perfect for each other. Happy birthday wishes to him from New York.
Thanks so much, jacquelin – I guess we were meant to be together, and I just love that!
So, this was 1981, right? Good thing you weren’t playing, oh, “Shuddap You Face.” Things could have turned out so differently.
That was the second song we played, Todd. 🙂 Yes, it could have been so different …
Sweetness! Happy birthday Mr. Sunshine!
Thanks, tori – I’ll pass on your wishes to him.
Great stuff! 🙂
Hey, jamie – thanks! Hope you’re well.
What a lovely post! Happy happy birthday again to W 🙂
P.s. Never heard of a jam session including a recorder, soooo uncool! 🙂
Thanks, precious Andie! You know, I thought about how uncool it was that our “jam” session included a recorder – like, wild! How funny. We had fun, but it wasn’t as rock ‘n roll as it could have been! But then, you know xx
Lovely post — happy birthday to that lucky fellow!
Thanks, Debbie – I’ll remind him how lucky he is! 🙂
Thanks for all the Birthday wishes. I am a blessed man in deed to have had 30 years of Sunshine (so far) : )
Mr Sunshine
Awww, how sweet! I am glad you are a blessed man and not a bles man! hahahahaha! Love you xx
Have a wonderful day together, Sunshine. That first moment never loses its power to take your breath away, does it?
Thank you, Kate. It was quite a first moment, and you’re right – it never loses its power.
I think they sang “Hey Jude!” in one of my favorite romantic comedies in a bar…that song really brings people together. I love this post; I think it’s the sweetest. Happy birthday, Mr. Sunshine! 🙂
Thank you so much – I loved writing this post!
I’m so sorry to have missed Mr. Sunshine’s birthday…I’m a little behind on reading!
I hope he had a lovely day…
Hugs,
Wendy
Thanks, Wendy. Well, you’ve been a little busy being pressed freshly – again! Congratulations – hope you survived the heavy traffic! Hugs from London xx
Thanks, Sunshine…it was fun, but things are definitely back to normal traffic-wise today…now I want to visit the blogs of the people who commented…
Miss you…
Hugs,
Wendy
Stopping by from 36×37’s comments — what a beautiful story to celebrate your husband’s birthday! You told it all in such an economy of words. Love it.
Thank you so much, and for your kind comments. Good to see you over here at my blog – please make yourself at home!
Lovely! What a great memory to hold on to. In high school I worked at Kevin Costner’s restaurant, and would ask the pianist to play Hey Jude until she just did played it when I would walk by. Such a nice lady.
Hope he had a great birthday!
Thank you – it is a special memory. Love your high school story too!
What a wonderful tribute to Mr. S.! I felt the same chill when my future husband walked by me at the airport, 36 years ago!
We were both flying to London for a college class, and were assigned seats next to one another on the 747.
I hope you all had a wonderful celebration!
So you know the feeling – amazing, isn’t it? Thanks for the kind wishes, we had a lovely celebration!
Lovely. How blessed you both are. Good wishes sent all ’round.
Thanks so much, jevcat – I do feel very blessed.
This actually reminds me a lot of Roger and me in our youth. We used to get to school early. He and some of our other friends would bring guitars to school, and we would sit around and play and sing together (well, I didn’t do much playing — never got very good). Once on a rainy afternoon he and I went to the Cloisters (a medieval art branch of the Metropolitan Museum of Art, set in Fort Tryon park) and curled up together on a stone bench in the alcove of an unglazed gothic window, him quietly strumming while the rain pattered softly on large fir trees just outside and the scent of pine needles wafted in. Nowadays you’d never be allowed to do that, but it is one of my fondest memories of a magical afternoon at a time in our lives when things were often not good between us.
That sounds just beautiful and magical – thank you for your lovely description of a special time for you two.
And now you are on a completely opposite side of the world together! That was very precious of you.
Hope it was awesome!!!
xx
Yip, I will follow him anywhere, and vice versa! It was a lovely day – thank you, sweet mnb!
This is the sweetest, Sunshine! Have the best day! x iz
Thanks so much, iz! Lovely to see you here again – hope you’re well xx