I put a lot of thought and effort into my husband's birthday yesterday.
He's the most difficult person in the world to buy for because if he wants something--he just goes and gets it. It doesn't matter if there is a major holiday or his birthday or any other occasion to possibly WAIT to see if maybe someone wanted to buy it--nope, no waiting at ALL on his part.
So, I spent a couple of weeks prodding his brain and searching online and browsing through stores to see if I could find something that he would like that would not be on his "I have to have it NOW, birthday be DAMNED!" list.
Once again--I failed.
You see, after YEARS of complaint about his must-have-it-now attitude which prevents me from presenting GOOD gifts that are actually DESIRED, I thought he'd finally GOTTEN it. Because for the last few weeks, we've had many hint-dropping conversations between the two of us about what he wants that will be available for purchase on or around his birthday. And with all the hints, I THOUGHT he was also being the gentleman and WAITING until after his birthday to make any purchases--in the hopes that I had bought his true heart's desire.
In seventeen years, this is not the first time (nor will it be the last) that I completely and utterly MISUNDERSTOOD my husband's blatant hints--and assumed the completely WRONG thing.
I had to go to two stores on Monday to find his perfect gift. I brought Mary with me. I was all confident that 1) it was what he wanted and 2) he hadn't bought it for himself yet.
It wasn't until I got home from work yesterday and started to WRAP the present that I found out my error. Mary came running into the bedroom and said, "Mom! He's already got it!" "He WHAT?"
Sure enough, sitting on the TV stand in the living room--that perfect gift that I bought for John the day it came out (and so, apparently did HE). The game that he could not could wait TWO FREAKIN' DAYS to see if MAYBE his wife bought it for him.
His comment later (after the kids had gone to bed), "I TOLD you I bought it." No, no, you didn't. It must have been the PRETEND conversation you had with your PRETEND wife. 'Cause real me wasn't part of that conversation--or else I would have taken it back and wracked my brains for something else (with less than 24 hours to go).
Yeah--it appears that his blatant hints were about some OTHER object. Something I did briefly consider, but decided against it as I thought the other thing would be more appreciated. Well, I was right. The gift purchased WAS more appreciated--so much so that it was not physically possible for him to WAIT for it. IDIOT!
I freakin' give up.
The only good part: the roast and the coconut cream pie I made for his birthday dinner turned out PERFECT.
4 comments:
Maybe an authentic arcade upright version of Arkanoid. God knows he paid for about five of them.
Honestly, I'd say he must just not care that much about gifts. Either that or he's kinda a selfish asshole about this one specific thing. Either way, no great effort should any longer be put forth on your part. Get him a gift card to Lowe's and wash your hands of it!
good attitude... no wonder you're desperate.
MR: Please don't be mean to my mommy commentors!
DH: No, John doesn't typically care much about gifts at all. We've always had the rule that gifts for any holidays/occasions were NOT mandatory--we give each other something if we WANT to, not because we have to. But then when I didn't get him anything for his bday last year (I DID bake him a cake and had the kids make him a card), he admitted he was a bit hurt. I explained my gift-buying dilemma (and after all, we had JUST bought the huge HD TV, so really, that WAS his gift)--so that's why I thought he was RESTRAINING himself this year. Nope.
Ah well, I am taking his game back, and I ended up buying him some books. He really seemed to like them.
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