Gifting trickery

Generally speaking, my Christmas wishes have been simple. Having an old photo re-touched, my violin bow re-strung...these have been items on my short Christmas lists in the past. This year I only wanted one thing: a new camera. (What happened to my old camera? While hiking this summer, I accidentally catapulted my beloved Canon into a rushing mountain stream moments before we ran into, quite literally, a black bear on the trail. The irony of the situation was not lost to me.) 

The problem was that The Husband liked making extravagant gestures at Christmas. (I am forever attempting to simplify our holidays while The Husband thoroughly enjoys buying and giving.) Jewelry was one of his favorite things to buy, and although I was always touched, the things that I really wanted often got lost in the dust in the enthusiasm of a fantastic gesture of generosity. This was a point of contention between us for years. (I won't go into the details of a row we had at a jewelry store, arguing in front of the whole wide world. The Husband was a jewelry salesperson's dream.)

Two days before Christmas I was in the middle of a baking frenzy (note: it is NEVER a good idea to tease someone who can be described as "frenzied" in a room that holds many sharp utensils) with my mother when The Husband came into the kitchen and asked if I wanted to play, "Guess What I Got You for Christmas." Call me a Grinch, but I didn't want to play for two reasons:  1.) He ALWAYS guessed precisely what I bought for him. Every. Single. Year. Excluding the first Christmas we spent together when we were dating, the man had the unerring ability to correctly guess his present from me. 2.) I was afraid to raise my hopes for a new camera.

Despite my stubborn silence, he played anyway. And he described his present exactly, even the reason behind it. "I think you bought me a bass guitar with a gift certificate for lessons, and you probably got it from a shop in town so you could keep the money local. It's because you think I need to do something other than go to work and go to the gym." I couldn't look at him, because I'm a terrible liar and I knew he'd see the truth on my face. So I kept a death grip on the rolling pin and tried to make a joke about sending him on a yoga retreat. (He does like yoga, but I doubt he'd retreat to do it.) 

The next day my mother, brother, and sister-in-law accompanied me to the local farmer's market for some last-minute supplies. (One simply cannot celebrate without bacon. Am I right?) As we motored up 95, I was exclaiming about The Husband guessing his gift and then muttered something about how I had better not get diamond earrings. My mother had a smug little smile on her face and said that she knew what my gift was. Turned out that everyone knew. Even my mother-in-law in Colorado! This couldn't be good, I thought. He must have bought me something expensive AND glittery. And a small, resigned sigh might have escaped my lips at that point.

Christmas day finally arrived, and The Husband plunked a gift bag down in front of me. I pulled out a small jewelry box wrapped with a tulle bow, and inside it was a beautiful pair of yellow diamond earrings. They were gorgeous, and I thanked him sincerely. Really, I did! I must confess to feeling the slightest (the very tiniest!) twinge of disappointment, but before I could dwell upon it, he gave me a second gift bag. This one held two camera lenses, the professional kind that go on the end of a serious camera. I felt a wave of ecstasy...and then the plunge of worry. What happened to our budget?

The Husband, that stinker, gleefully explained that the diamond earrings were really cubic zirconia. My "real" gift was a camera. He just wanted to trick me. The nerve...but I'm a sucker. I completely fell for it. 

So I've been snapping pictures like crazy. Which means more pictures on the blog. I'm afraid you'll just have to humor me.

The wind kicked up late Christmas afternoon, and although it had stopped snowing, it was blowing like crazy. I love this picture because of the blowing snow and the sun that's beginning to peek out from behind the clouds.

Comments

[PartyMom]

I do love that story! And your photos are fantastic...I was just telling the Husband how you have a great eye for nature shots! Now just be wary of the accessories black hole. You already know we're knee deep in it!

[Amy O]

Congrats on the new camera, Margo! The best camera advice I ever got was to use natural lighting whenever possible. You probably already know this. And just this weekend I learned that in low lighting, your camera (no matter how fantastic it is) has to work harder - this is the point where complex things like aperature and pixels come into play - making your photo look yellow (without using a flash of course). There is a nifty kind of flash that you can get to counter-balance this effect. Or you can buy something like photoshop. But for me, I thought it was just my lack of skill. Really, its just nature. (Somehow I dont think anything I just said was very helpful - Sorry!) I cant wait to see your new photos!

[Margo]

hey, I got a camera for Christmas too! I have to admit I cracked up at the cubic zirconia trick - but don't tell him or he'll crow.

But your photos look waaaay better than mine so far. What are your tips? This is the first time I've ever handled a real camera - I always had point and shoots before.

[Melissa]

my husband always tries to trick me with presents-- he sometimes succeeds but sometimes doesn't. either way, it's a tad annoying. And, if I ask for something specific, he won't get it for me because then it won't be a surprise (which I told him I don't care about, but he does). Maybe the next time your husband guesses what you got for him, you should return the gift then get him something else, and he'll be shocked that he wasn't right. :)

[Amy O]

Aw Sed...were lucky to have you!

[Amy O]

One of my favorite presents was a garden composter. And how many years did I ask for one? Almost a bazillion. Apparently composted plant matter isnt romantic.

[sed]

Gorgeous pics! Congrats on the new camera! I loved reading this story. You all are hilarious & adorable, & I'm lucky to have u as friends! Xoxoxoxo

[Rebecca]

Every time I see one of those ads where a woman stares in crushed disappointment at, say, a new blender I want to scream, "What have you done to us, Madison Avenue?!"

My best Christmas present ever was my fancy kitchen knife set. This year I got an enormous glass crock to keep bread in on the counter and the installation of a pulley clothesline. Hot dawg!