Where have I been?
Well, I’ve been in Michigan. It was cold.
I got to make eyes at your favorite president and mine, Gerald R. Ford.
Don’t we make a cute couple?
Jerry’s presidential museum is the coolest. It’s basically like, “Gerald R. Ford was the greatest human ever. Gerald R. Ford invented oxygen.” And by the end, you’re like, “I laughed. I cried. It was better than ‘Cats.’ I’m going to see it again and again.”
Also, stopping by the museum gift shop gave me the opportunity for what educators call “a teaching opportunity” and what I call “training my husband.”
See, My Guy is brilliant in many ways. But knowing which former presidents are alive and which are dead? Well, it’s not his strong suit. We once got in a fight over whether Nixon was alive or dead. And I was all, “I remember watching his funeral my freshman year of college.” And he was all, “I have no recollection of this at all.” And then I was all, “That’s because you were, like, 12.”
Sometimes, when you’re married to a younger man? You look old and crotchety even if all you did was know that Nixon is dead.
So, at Gerald R. Ford’s presidential museum gift shop? I bought my husband a bookmark with all the presidents on it. And we can draw an X over the ones that have passed on to the ol’ oval office in the sky.
I really wanted to buy the presidential flash cards. Imagine – hours of flipping through cards, just like when we learned multiplication tables. 4 x 8? 32! Millard Fillmore? Dead!
However, I thought that might be a tiny bit too pushy. Also, the flash cards were $10, and the bookmark was $2. So, I went with the subtlety of the bookmark / Sharpie combo.
My sweet husband laughed, and was appreciative of his gift. He then proceeded to tell me that he was pretty sure Jimmy Carter was dead.
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We bought Presidential flash cards under the guise of "it's for the kids' edification"…but really? He and I both coveted them…we wanted to know spouses' names and former professions!
I'm so bummed you were in Michigan and I didn't get a chance to say hi! I hope you had a great visit. (As great as it could be without me saying hi.)
I shook President Ford's hand in 1976. I was just an 11 year old member of a big crowd, and our hands met through the links of a chain link fence, but it was a beautiful moment and you're jealous, aren't you?
I love that museum! Hope you had a great time here in Michigan. Sorry we didn't have better weather for you while you were here.
We own the flashcards for not just the Presidents, but the First Ladies!! Yes, bought for the kid. But fun for everyone 🙂
Smart idea with the bookmark, but I'm thinking flashcards would be fun: think of all you could memorize together!
On of my minors is History and I still can't tell you as much about the presidents as I would like to.
Bless his heart for not knowing! You're a good woman, giving him the tools to stay up on presidential demise.
I liked Ford, too.
I really have no idea who is left alive, but I can live with that. 🙂
This post is hysterical. Sounds like exactly the same kind of stubborn conversation I'd find myself in with my husband. Our first cat was named Chester VanBuren (it was either that or Martin A. Arthur…). So, we bought the cat a placemat with all the presidents pictured on it. If you ever have a need to know about other dead presidents, let me know. I'll ask the cat.