Happy Birthday
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"D can you hand me some purple paint from the bookshelf!!" I yelled to Howie from the front porch. I was 20 years old and had just finished my two year college studies. I was living in a new home in Orlando Florida, with my boyfriend Howie. I was painting the sunrise from over the ocean. The view was beautiful this was almost a daily ritual for us. We'd go on the porch weather or not it was 20 below or 98 degrees outside, I would paint and D would make breakfast. And then we would sit outside and cuddle.

Two seconds after I asked for the paint, Howie bounds out of the door and hands me the bottle. His long black hair was wet and hung all around his shoulders. He was dressed in tight blue jeans, and a white body-hugging tank top. Damn he looked good. "Here you go. Sweetie that is really good." He assured me as he took a few steps back from the painting. "It's beautiful. Just like you." He always knows when to say things like that.

On this morning he had to go into the studio a little early and he glances at his watch and realizes he has to go with the other guys to record some new tracks. "Honey, I have leave for work now. There is a note on the table from a phone call earlier this morning. I'll see you when I get home." He kisses me on my lips as he hops off the porch and gets into his red convertible and drives off. I get up to wash off my brushes, and do the laundry. I happen to glance at the note on the table. It said that there was something waiting for me in his closet upstairs. "I think I'll look at it later." I think to my self as I walk to the basement to do the clothes. I run around the house to make the bed. I'm picking up his clothes off the bed, the chair and the TV. This is one guy that takes FOREVER to find clothes to wear. I pick up one of his shirts. It smells just like him. I got to the closet and there is a beautiful silver gown and a dozen iris hanging with the dress. He knows those are my favorite flowers. There is also a note on the dress that says, "Iris meet me at Nick's house around 8:30 tonight. I have a birthday present for you." Of course I'm wondering why my birthday present is at Nick's house.

Howie called me at 6:30 to tell me that Leighanne Littrell and Kristin Richardson, Brian and Kevin's wives, were coming over to do my hair and make up. He still wouldn't tell me what the hell was going on. Leighanne and Kristin knew what was going on but they wouldn't tell me what it was either. At 8:00 I got into the Jeep and drove to Nick's house. I can hear music playing from behind the gate. I knock on the door but no one answers. Leighanne tells me to go to the back garden. I open the gate. The sight I saw was the funniest thing ever. All four Boys were dressed in tuxs and I could not stop laughing. Howie was sitting in a boat that was covered with iris. Kevin was playing the piano, AJ was strumming away on the guitar, and Nick and Brian were walking to me.

Brian and Nick each took one of my hands and led me to the boat. And then Howie lifted me in. I was getting a little nervous. "Honey where are we going?" I asked him. He had a little sparkle in his eyes. I swear they looked like tears. As I turned around to see the other guys they had already left. "You'll see, I have a very big surprise for you."

About one hour later, we landed on an island that was obviously set up for a celebration. AJ was driving the boat much to my surprise and he got out and helped me to shore. The two best friend exchanged a tight handshake and AJ drove the boat away. I sat down on the blanket and asked, "Ok dear, what is my surprise?" "I can't let you have it until you open the other guys' presents for you," he replied. So I had to sit through an hour of opening presents from the other guys. Finally as I was reading a card from Mrs. Dorough, Howie got on his knees, and said "Iris you have been the love of my life since we met that day 2 years ago. You have always been there for me and I would like it very much if you would marry me." It was all I could do not to start crying my eyes out like a little baby. The sparkle in his eyes were gone now, he was crying like a young child. "Yes, you crazy nut, of course I'll marry you." Well I think that a couple, or should I say 4 Backstreet Boys were on the opposite shore flashing lights, and playing a very interesting rendition of "Happy Birthday". That had to be this best birthday ever.

Iris Dorough