A Ticket To Drive: The Best Gift I Have Ever Given To My Husband
(Ahem, Children do not count!)

Like most men, my husband pretty much gets what he needs when he needs it. This self-serving attitude helps him get along great in his everyday life, but it certainly makes times like his birthday and Christmas a challenge for me!

Tools, I do not buy him, I wouldn't even try. The simple fact of the matter is, he would literally have to be right there with me when I chose his tools as he is one picky man when it comes to choosing the right tool for the job; if he doesn't already have most tools known to man in his garage, then chances are he doesn't require it. And as I said before, if he needs it, he just goes out and gets it. He does not wait for a gift-giving opportunity to arise for me to buy it for him.

Car parts? I would have to be completely out of my mind to even attempt it. No thank you, again, if he needs it he has Auto Zone on speed dial. Seriously.

Clothes, I have attempted with little success. Oh, I can pick out his underwear okay (sometimes) and I have had some success with shirts but his jeans are another matter entirely. 3 out of the 4 pair I bought him this past Christmas are still sitting by the door waiting to be returned to the store.

In 2004 however, I hit the ball out of the park completely. Not that he was overcome with glee at the time he unwrapped my very cool gift to him; the utter amazement and joy did not actually happen until he scheduled a date and actually did it.

Intrigued? Well, I'll tell you, I was pretty excited about this particular gift. I saw it as everyman's fantasy even those like my dear husband who is not even a fan of the sport. The fact that he is Male would suffice to cause him great joy when his day came. I knew this in my very center; in my bones and in my heart!

I saved $400 and bought my husband the Richard Petty Experience.

Imagine if you will: My husband, dressed in his fireproof suit, helmet and gloves waiting for his turn behind the wheel, driving a powerful NASCAR race car around the track for 8 laps, alone except for a professional out in front of him, communicating with him via hand signals. It was a sight to behold and I was thrilled to be seated in the stands watching him as he barely contained a smile that stayed on his face for the remainder of the day!

He chose the track in Atlanta for his experience, but he had quite a few tracks across the Nation to choose from. I bought the least expensive driving package and have heard nothing since that cold November day how he will do it again, only he will drive that car for more laps around the track.

As I said, we are not fans of the NASCAR sport, but he is a man and as such holds within him the unexplainable desire for both speed and danger. I understand this and I exploited it to its fullest with my special gift to him.

He loved it dearly, but not until he actually did it. Until then it was just a certificate in an envelope, as unreal as a distant planet across the universe. It was certainly worth the wait however and I was thanked again and again for my clever and unique gift.

Learn more about this author, Carrington M. Nye.
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