I have always wanted a Les Paul guitar - a REAL Les Paul - a Gibson, not any other, only a Gibson.

Well, recently I was celebrating (or should I say suffering through) one of those "milestone" birthdays. You know, one of "The Big XO's" where your closest friends rent yard signs announcing to the world how old you are, send you cards telling you the number of candleson your cake are a fire hazard, and buy you presents like canes with rearview mirrors and slow moving vehicle signs.

Well, my wife was passing through Nashville, TN and stopped at the Gibson Showcase store, mostly on a lark, and when the salesguy asked if he could show her anything, she naturally asked for a Les Paul.  Now, that might not seem like such a big deal - of course Gibson would have Les Pauls in the shop - but what they never seem to have (and I've been to this shop two previous years in a row) are LEFT-HANDED, Gibson, Les Pauls.

As fate would have it - on this particular occasion, not only did the Gibson Showcase have an official Gibson Les Paul - they handed my wife a 1959 Reissue Gibson Les Paul from the Gibson Custom Shop - Left-Handed !  The guitar-gods had, finally, after 34 years, smiled upon me and placed within my grasp the holy-grail of all guitars (granted, it was a re-issue, not an original '59, but for a left-handed player that's closer than you ever dream of getting - AND it was a beautiful, hand-made, cherry-burst finish, from the Custom Shop [see photo in gallery]).

Most guys stumble across stuff like this and then begin the long and tedious process of trying to convince their wives of letting them have it - but in this case it was My Wife who called me - and all she said was, "Happy Birthday."

Is my wife a keeper - or what !