I’m so incredibly spoiled by my husband. Every time Christmas or my birthday comes around, I’m showered with gifts from Jeffrey. Every time, I giggle from excitement and I’m delighted and surprised by his thoughtfulness. He even takes the time to wrap it. It’s shoddy wrapping, but still so sweet that he takes the time to do it because he knows how special it feels to unwrap a gift. He gets me things that I LOVE, even if I don’t even know that I’d love it. For example, he got me a Kindle one year – I didn’t ask for it or even express the desire to have one, but he knew I loved to read and now I’m hooked on reading digital books.
This year, the surprise, delight and thoughtfulness was no different. I suspected that my gifts arrived in the mail today, and when he got home from work he asked me if I wanted to open my Christmas presents early. DUH?! Of course! So he went down to the basement and brought up two wrapped gifts (totally killed an entire roll of wrapping paper and was a little excessive on the tape), one small and one large….I went for the small one first and it ended up being the iPad wireless keyboard that I put on my Christmas wish list. Very thoughtful, but not much of a surprise since I made it easy for him by writing out a list. I had already gotten my camera, so I guessed on what the larger gift was and I was right: a sewing machine!
But wait, there’s more! He went back down to the basement and brought back 2 more gifts, unwrapped but still in their mailing packages.
Here’s a little side-story: My grandmother taught my sister and I how to play classical piano when we were little and I’ve been playing ever since. My dad and my Uncle Joer play the guitar and piano by ear and my Uncle Joer even has his basement equipped for jam sessions – drums, keyboard, guitars, microphones and speakers. So, music runs in my family’s veins. I used to play the piano and sing, but I never quite finished a song or got any good at it. I just did it for the love of music, but stopped after I had Arielle and Zavier because I never had time to practice. Now that they’re a little older, I’ve had time to play a bit more and learn new songs. I mentioned to Jeff how cool it would be to have mini jam sessions with me with my piano and Jeff with his guitar, but I needed a microphone. Lo and behold, Jeff got me a microphone with a proper stand so I can sing and play the piano at the same time! Weeheee! What a nice surprise!
Seeing that I was thrilled with my surprise gifts, he went back down to the basement to get…more gifts?! Seriously? Now I’m screwed. I got him a pretty decent gift this year and was quite pleased with myself that I got him something more than an alarm clock (which is what I got him last year). This is too much. I can’t top this! But hey, if he wanted to give me more presents I was not about to stop him! What could it possibly be?
Here’s another side-story: I’ve been trying to learn how to take nice pictures with my dSLR. I was inspired by this article on the Huffington Post: Facebook Profile Photos Are a Serious Business and I couldn’t agree more – Facebook photos, Linked In profile pictures make up your digital presence and having a picture from some party where you crop out the weirdos as your main image is no longer acceptable. I briefly mentioned to Jeff that I want to start taking head shots for my friends. Being the entrepreneur that I am – or that my mom is (I swear, I get it from her) – I figured that I might get good at this and maybe I can start my own business one day. I think I mentioned it to Jeff in passing. I may have muttered it and I don’t even know if he was listening or awake at the time. Apparently, he was listening. He remembered and he’s supportive of my ideas and goals because he got me…a freakin’ portrait studio! An entire set – backdrops, lighting, and stands! He even set it up in his sacred and beloved man cave space.
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Christmas came early for me this year and I totally won. I’m too excited to sleep! I’m so happy. Thank you, Jeffy. I love you!
so sweet