Deeanne Gist - www.deeannegist.com - Inspirational Romance Author

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Friday, December 09, 2005

Birthday Results

Remember when I told you my husband's birthday was approaching and I didn't know what to get him, so I asked you for suggestions? Well, the big day has come and gone and I am reporting back with the results.

Somebody suggested a tee-shirt with a favorite sports team on it. Perfect. Our daughter bought him an Astros National Champions shirt and he loved it.

Offline, someone suggested giving him a gift certificate for golf lessons with the golf pro. I did that, too.

I strolled the aisles of our office supply store and found lots of things for me and in order to justify all my purchases (for me), I felt like I needed to buy him something. So, I picked up a screen saver (that was on sale) for his computer. It was a virtual fish aquarium that you get to "build" yourself.

Lastly, I remembered how he had been complaining that I never give him pedicures. I have no idea what prompted this complaint. Never in my entire life have I given him a pedicure (or vice versa). Not because I'm a mean and selfish wife, but because he has really good looking feet and doesn't need one. Also, he places a high premium on his calluses (says he needs them for his sporting activities). I don't want to be blamed for ruining his game by taking off too much callus.

So ... I went to the day spa and got him a gift certificate for a pedicure. I decorated the front of the envelope with footsies and bubbles and decorative letters that said: "Good for One Pedicure."

The big day came. We baked a cake, bought two boxes of birthday candles (and had to use every single one), wrapped his presents and made his favorite meal. After an inspiring chorus of "Happy Birthday to You," he reaches for the fish aquarium package. Opens it. Frowns. Flips it over to read the back.

At this point, I begin to "sell" the item. "It's a screen saver! You get to pick out your own fish and everything!!"

He looks up. "Did this come free in the mail or something?"

The kids roar.

I smile. "Close."

He studies it some more. His frown grows more pronounced. "Wait a minute. This is a screen saver, right? That means, it won't come on unless ... I'm not there."

The kids roar again. I hand him another package. This one is the golf lessons. We wrapped it up inside a box of golf balls. He opens it. Is pleased with the balls, then scans the gift certificate. Then reads the gift certificate. Then looks up in astonishment.

"Are these lessons for me??" (As in: he's so good he doesn't need lessons.)

The kids laugh. I nod my head.

"Well," he says, "I'm glad it's only for an hour because by that time that pro will have taken me as far as he can."

I roll my eyes and hand him the package that has the pedicure certificate inside. He opens the package, takes it out of the box and doesn't even look inside the envelope. Just reads the outside. His eyes widen. His face pales.

"Oh, nooo!"

By this time, the kids are clutching their sides and bending over in their chairs with laughter. I'm starting to get perturbed.

"Well, happy birthday, sweetheart," I snap.

He looks up. "No, no! I mean, I really appreciate it. I do. And I want one. But ... do they have a back door, do you think?"

I give in. I laugh, thump him upside the head and serve dinner. He really liked the dinner. Ate so much it made his stomach hurt.

The next day, he went to lunch with one of the guys at work. Told him about his birthday experience. Got to the part about the last present and frowned. "Now, I want you to know I'm okay with this, but she got me a ... pedicure!"

His buddy looks to the right and left, leans in and whispers, "I got a facial last week."

Shocked my husband right down to his toes. But he and his buddy, then he and I, got a pretty good chuckle out of it.

He has yet to make use of his screen saver or his golf lessons or his pedicure certificate. But he's worn his Astros shirt lots and lots of times. Well, can't wait to see what Christmas brings!!

P.S. We have notified our contest winner. When we hear back from her, I will announce who it is, as well as the tallies of your voting. Meanwhile, the new contest is up.

posted by Deeanne at 10:07 AM

1 Comments:

Barb said...: Wait'll my husband hears this. It definitely revolutionizes my image of Texan men!