By Neena Strichart
With tomorrow being Christmas, I couldn’t help but share with you, our gentle readers, my thoughts on gift givers. In my book, there are three types of generous souls: those who keep the present a secret, those who just come out and tell what it is, and those who give so many hints that part of the gift is actually the verbal gyrations the person goes through trying not to tell what the gift is ahead of time.
Having been married three times — I will tell you that I’ve had the pleasure of having one of each type of giver as a husband. I just won’t tell you who is (or was) which type of giver.
The third style of giving is definitely the most entertaining, but can be very frustrating. He (or she) tries desperately not to tell the receiver what gift they are to be given, but excitement takes over and makes it impossible for he or she to keep the secret. I will give you a run down of a scenario I experienced many years ago — although just slightly exaggerated for your reading pleasure.
My husband started dropping hints on Christmas Eve.
HE: It’s smaller than a breadbox
ME: That’s fine, don’t tell me any more
HE: OK, but it’s shiny
ME: Fine, that’s enough
HE: But you’ll love it
ME: I’m sure I will
HE: You used to have one
ME: Please stop
HE: That’s all I’m going to say, but you lost your old one
ME: Honey, please
HE: You can wear it
ME: Now I’m getting mad
HE: Don’t you want a hint?
ME: You’ve given me too many hints already
HE: It comes in a box, but I won’t tell you what size
ME: Good
HE: Ok, it comes in a smallish size box
ME: You are ridiculous
HE: Aren’t you just a little curious?
ME: No!
HE: Ok, just one more hint — you can wear it.
ME: That’s nice
HE: But it’s not clothes
ME: ENOUGH!
HE: It’s multi-colored and goes with everything
ME: Lucky me
HE: You’ll never guess from this hint — it has a face and hands, but no feet!
ME: I give up!
HE: You do?! It’s a watch with interchangeable colored bezels that is just like the one you used to have, but lost. This one is a little bit different, because it has a chain-type band and not a bangle band. I couldn’t find one with the bangle band and I know you’ll wear it every day and love it! But, don’t open it now. Let’s wait until the morning!
ME: Thanks dear; I wouldn’t want to ruin the surprise by opening it now!
HE: Wanna give me a hint about my present?
ME: What present?
Merry Christmas to you all. Have a lovely holiday season with your loved ones.
PRIVATE MESSAGE TO STEVE: Wanna hint? One of your presents is small, dark with a little something shiny attached. I.L.Y.
