It’s the thought that counts, right?

by Marilyn on April 18, 2008

Looking back, I think it was the Christmas before Kile and I were married that I received my “worst” present from him. I say that in quotes because I don’t think anything he’s ever given me has been really bad, just… a little unorthodox. But, for the most part, unorthodox is okay with me. I mean, I was THRILLED the Christmas where my big present from him was a copy of Windows XP for my computer. Until then I’d been limping by with Windows Me (the worst operating system in the history of operation systems) and that was the perfect gift for me right then. So yeah, I’m a bit of a nerd. I accept that.

That year, we were both still in college. We worked part time, but money wasn’t really abundant for either of us. We had some credit at a local furniture store and that’s about it. So a lot of our gifts that year came from, yes, the furniture store. It was one of those places that had a lot of different things for sale, however. Stop laughing! It sounds worse than it was. Or maybe it doesn’t.

That was the first Christmas we both spent together, at my parent’s house. The previous year we’d been apart for the holidays so this was a big deal. Plus, it was the last Christmas before we were married. Christmas morning arrived, and I was surprised to see this present under the tree for me from Kile. I wasn’t expecting much of anything. But I should have known he wouldn’t let the holiday go by without a gift. I opened it and it was… a cd tower.

On the plus side, it was very functional and practical. I had a lot of cds that had no home and were living in boxes and in drawers. Now I had a place that I could arrange and display them easily and attractively! It was heavy and sturdy and just right to fit in my cramped apartment bedroom.

However. It’s not necessarily a romantic gift. Or a fashionable gift. Or even a remarkable gift. It was a piece of furniture. Nothing flashy there. It wouldn’t have even mattered or been noticed but my sister was also there with her fiance. They were set to be married just six months after we were. And what gift did he give to her? A lovely crushed velvet bodysuit (as was the style at the time) from Victoria’s Secret. Complete with the pink packaging and satin bow and the whole nine yards. Now, at that time, I had a serious thing for velvet. Especially crushed velvet. And I really liked bodysuits. And I LOVED Victoria’s Secret. So of course I oohed and ahhed over my sister’s gift. And I guess my reaction to her gift made Kile feel a little bad about what he had given me.

I feel a little bad about that. I’ve teased him about it over the years, because he felt so badly about it. But I did assure him at the time (and every time since then) that his gift was just FINE. I liked it, I use it all the time (it is still being used, in fact, ten years later!). Yes, I liked the gift my sister received very much but that didn’t make me appreciate his gift any less.

Like I said. It wasn’t a really romantic gift. But it sure was a thoughtful one. And isn’t that what counts?

This post was inspired by PBN’s Blog Blast, “Gifts Gone Right, Gifts Gone Wrong” and is sponsored by the website GetinHerHead.com. The idea is that when you sign up for the website, your significant other will no longer have to guess at what to give you and will KNOW that the crushed velvet bodysuit is what is really put a smile on your face Christmas morning. If you have a great gift story (or an awful one!) you can write about it on your blog this weekend and be entered to win a $250 spa giveaway. Now, who wouldn’t want that??

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