My Wife Wrote a Birthday Message on My Car & Accidentally Made Maine Laugh

I turned 41 this week, and my wife, Janelle, decided to make sure absolutely everyone knew it was my birthday. 

She wrote a message across the back window of my car asking people to “give a gental ‘honk’ to wish my wife a happy birthday.” 

There was just one tiny problem. 

She spelled “gentle” wrong. 

And when you look at the word she actually wrote… let’s just say it looks A LOT like another word that starts with “genital.” 

Lizzy Snyder

So now my birthday surprise accidentally became a traveling comedy show. 

My Wife’s Birthday Message Became a Maine-Wide Joke

I drove through at least seven cities on my birthday, and I swear people were cracking up everywhere I went. People were pointing, laughing, honking and taking pictures. I’m pretty sure some people didn't even know me, but they were invested in my birthday celebration anyway. 

And honestly? I loved it. 

Because you see stuff like this all the time in Maine. Someone gets engaged and writes it on their car. Someone graduates and covers the back window with balloons and congratulations.

There are funny bumper stickers, family sayings, “Baby on Board” signs and those random little messages that make you smile when you’re sitting behind someone at a red light. 

Read More: L.L.Bean Maine Flagship Store Reopens This September

You don't know the person, but for a second, you're part of their life. And I think that's awesome. It makes travelling fun. 

And in my case, apparently, all of Maine got to celebrate my 41st birthday… while also wondering why my wife was asking them for a “gental” honk. 

Thank you, Nelly. 

I will never emotionally recover from this.