Anniversary dinner makes a person feel gifted

A reader wrote the other day to ask whether I would go out to dinner with him. He and his wife were celebrating their 30th anniversary and he wanted to surprise her. With me.

He didn't ask me to jump out of a cake as part of the deal, so I agreed. I've accepted such invitations before, and so far, no ax murderers have appeared across the table.

What persuaded me to dine with strangers again was the tone of his e-mail.

"I'm not very good at selecting and purchasing the right gift," he wrote. "But I do at least try to be creative . . . "

Having me join them for dinner was his idea of being creative. It worked. At least, I think it worked.

His wife, Debbie, cried when we met in the middle of the restaurant's dining room. She just stood there and cried, shaking her hands at her side. I've never really had that effect on anyone before.

And then her husband began crying because she was crying. I almost cried, too, not wanting to be left out.

At first, I ... // 65% Remaining