RED: Canoe Come Out and Play? EIGHT

Ben has always been a very creative boyfriend-fiance-husband. Our college years were full of scavenger hunts, sweet notes and little surprises. And when he's planning something, his reveal is quite clever. I, on the other hand, can't keep a good surprise to myself for more than five minutes. My dad and older sister stopped telling me what we got my mom for her birthday or for Christmas when I was four, I think. If I was in the know, the secret was out. Not because I'm a tattle, I just can't keep a good thing to myself! I love surprises, and twenty years later, I've made no progress. [Case in point: I was down south for two weeks in for weddings and came back the night before Ben's birthday. His presents didn't even make it to the wrapping paper. They were carried up the stairs and shoved in his face. Immediately. No self control].

Regardless, as summer was coming to an end, Ben asked that I not make plans for a certain day. I obeyed and did my best to pry it out of him. His first clue was "Knock, knock..." Actually, I think this was his last clue because I couldn't get it. The morning of our adventure rolled around and he told me the whole joke: "Knock, Knock. Who's there? Canoe. Canoe who? Canoe come out and play with me?" Clever.

We journeyed south and I was allowed to take just one camera (yes, Ben has to put a limit on my documentary devices). It was our first canoeing adventure and once my rowing was acceptable to the drill sergeant in the back of the boat... we did quite well together. It was a beautiful day for a canoe ride. We passed only one other boat and stopped at our leisure to skip rocks and rope swing. Loved every minute of it and will definitely be back at the first sign of summers return.