Friday, May 22, 2009

Practical vs. Luxurious

Today is my birthday. Early on in our marriage my husband discovered my preference for frivolous gifts of luxury rather than practical gifts when he gave me a fly swatter as a gift for my birthday. It wasn't just any fly swatter. It was a top-of-the-line Fly Shooter Bug Gun. In his defense (a paltry one at best) at the time I was a nursing mother and we were having a bit of a fly infestation in our small home. He believed that by giving me this fly shooter gun he was doing me a great favor. He surmised that I could sit on the sofa, nurse the baby, and kill those pesky flies at the same time. He's a thoughtful man at heart. Shortly after receiving that gift I sat him down and "explained" to him that I preferred gifts of a more epicurean bent. He got the message loud and clear and since that time has offered me deliciously luxurious gifts of jewelry, scents, silks, and the like. That is, up until a few weeks ago...

Several weeks ago my husband and I were perusing the isles at "Anthropologie." To be accurate, I was perusing. He was walking around, arms folded, picking up an item every now and then, looking decidedly uncomfortable and keeping his eye on the door. He's the kind of guy that will suffer through any discomfort and never complain just to please me. A pretty sweet little catch, if you ask me. I have had my eye on a couple of items in that store for years...

These sweet little ceramic measuring cups...

and these adorable measuring spoons...

My husband saw me ogling these items and said, "Why don't you get them." I suggested he buy them for me. He could give me one for Mother's Day and the other for my birthday. His eyebrows raised. He was remembering a "certain conversation" when I emphatically delineated the advantages of presenting me with luxurious rather than practical presents. I could see his poor little analytical mind working over-time. He considered a set of measuring cups and spoons a practical item -- tools for the kitchen. It was a perplexing situation for him. He ended up getting them, but that man is a quick study and has the memory of an elephant. He also gave me some beautiful flowers for Mother's Day and I hear tell there are a few more delectable treats awaiting me at the end of the day ... Yippeeee!

Just curious... Do you prefer practical or luxurious gifts?