Wayne Smith could have celebrated his wife’s birthday last weekend with an ordinary white or chocolate cake from a bakery or a cake made from a mix.
Likewise when he decided to propose to her, he could have popped the question verbally. But Wayne is not the traditional kind of guy and instead, as a retired carpenter, prefers to build traditions for Becky.
The proposal was an example of Wayne’s exuberance. When the big day came, Wayne got out the tractor on the family farm on Sylvania-Metamora Road and mowed in the cornfield the question, “Will you marry me?” in letters 100 feet high.
Many anniversaries and two grown sons later, Wayne’s creativity is concentrated on birthday cakes and appropriate decorations.
Becky’s birthday anniversary is close enough to Valentine’s Day to call it a double celebration.
While explaining this year’s birthday bash cake, Wayne remembered the first cake that he made when sons Shawn and Casey were young.
To be different, Wayne stuck all the candles protruding on the side of the cake. When he lit them, Shawn said, “Daddy, I don’t think you should do it that way.”