An important date in history

17 years ago, there were no broods of periodic cicadas emerging (and also none this year). But that year something much more momentous happened, on this day exactly - Catharine changed her name....into something translatable as 'The Bride Of Coturnix' ;-)

Happy anniversary, medawlin'

And what she got as a present?

A whole bunch of Howling Pig soaps - very, very nicely fragrant:

i-080a4c579888e2388184871ed4285372-howlingpigsoaps.jpg

Howling Pig? This is where the name comes from:

The Legend Of The Howling Pig

Legend has it that once, long, long, ago, the pigs ran free in great, happy herds, roaming the wide open spaces of the lone prairie, much like the buffalo, only shorter. And pinker.

In those bucolic, bygone days, the happy - and oddly energetic - pigs spent most of their time cavorting merrily among the wild flowers, rolling in the dust, or snuffling for truffles, except for once a month when, for reasons now long lost in the shadowy mists of time and, well, more time, these happy pigs would gather one by one on a starlit hillside, chosen by means and ways long forgotten, raise their snouts in unison and howl in loud, joyful cacophony to the rising moon.

Some say it was poetry. Others insist it was nothing more than a release of nervous energy brought on by their truffle habit.

We say, a pig's gotta do what a pig's gotta do.

And so, in memory of those happy (albeit noisy) porcine, we at Howling Pig have dedicated ourselves to the lovingly handmade creation of smelly soaps and other stuff.

Thus, the legend continues.

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Some people get jewels, some people get flowers, some people get romantic trips to tropical islands -- but I got Howling Pig soaps, lots of them, enough soap for at least one year, assuming I shower at least twice daily. And this, medawlin', is why I love you. You are so charming, original, thoughtful, brilliant, funny, loyal, reliable, generous, honest and, on top of everything, extremely aesthetically pleasing (a work of art, really). Nothing pleases me more than being with you and our children.

Remember the day we got married? The courthouse? A few tears rolled down my cheeks. Honestly, they were not tears of joy. I was terrified that I was making a Big Mistake. My kishkes told me that you were The One, that no other human being on earth could even come close to the sum total of qualities that make you Bora. I was afraid that I wasn't being rational. Although you were as familiar to me as my own flesh (and there was much less of it at the time), in many ways you were a stranger. But now I can look back with confidence, knowing that I made a good choice.

Our life together hasn't been easy. But because we face our struggles together, life has been tolerable, interesting and full of love that leads to strength.

Thank you, Bora. Thank you for the delicious soap, your endless kindness, generosity and patience, the children you have given me, your gentleness. In short, thank you for marrying me.

By Catharine (not verified) on 15 Sep 2009 #permalink

This one of the most romantic exchanges of wows (I think they are, indeed) I've read in a long while. I know how you felt, Kato, and glad you were brave enough to say yes to the ever charming Belgrade man ;-)
My best wishes

Please, send Catharine's Commentary to my facebook.Thanks,Mom (kengur)

By Rea Zivkovic (not verified) on 15 Sep 2009 #permalink