Have some time now...
I was lookiong forward to my ex-husband and my first Valentines Day together (pre-marraige) so about 2 months in advance I chose a Silver lighter for him and had our initials engraved - his one side, mine the other. It was lovely. Had it wrapped and ready for 2 months and could not wait for Valentines Day.
Valentines day came with all the excitement young love brings...and he came in from work, and I presented his gift and he looked at me like, "????" I said, "Its Valentines Day - duh!
" He opened it, loved it and looked funny.
I said, "So, where's mine"
"ummm. errrrm. uhhhhh.....I didn't get you anything. I didn;t know it was Valentines day."
What - you mean Valentines Day again - this year - like every year in his life before. Did he think they cancelled the day after the last, oh, I don't know - hundred years????? lol
Well, I was CRUSHED!!!! Reallly dissappointed and hurt. And then I got angry, and stormed out for a drive. SLAM!
We had a lodger - a friend of mine - and she heard the door slam, came running down and he told her what had happened. She told him, "Fred!! You are in SO much trouble!!!! Jan had that made for you weeks ago - she could not wait to give it to you - you
HAVE to go now, and get her
something!! "
It was about 8:30pm and the only thing near us that was open was a drug store - chemist/grocery store. So he apparently rushed out - I was out driving around and crying and steaming, etc.
I came home about 9:30pm, and he sheepishly handed me a little parcel and a card. Didn't really mean much, but I took them. I opened the box, and it was "Joan Collins Perfume!" CHEAP!!!!!!!!!! lol And I thought well maybe a sentimental card might mean something.
I opened the card......and do you know what it said......?.......wait for it........
HAPPY BIRTHDAY!!! he didn't even READ the card - just grabbed one....LOL
I-D-I-O-T!!!!!!!
So that was our first occassion together. I should have learned. It only got better on 2 occassions in our 15 years together!! It was a disaster. And everytime an occassion came along, I still went out of my way to get him something extravegant and lovely, hoping he would get the idea. And no luck- it never really improved. Loser.
That is probably my worst gift-exchange experience. The rest have not been much better. I seem to pick the guys that don't really get what gift-giving is about.
My hubby now, bless his heart, does try awfully hard, but funnily enough the gifts he gives me often tend to be something HE wants!! (IE Laptop; Wii; MP3 Player; Digital Photo Frame...all that techie kind of stuff which does NOTHING for me - but he tries.)
I finally told him, "Honey - future gifts should NOT have the need for batteries, memory cards or electrical plugs. Bear that in mind, and we should be alright."
he learned - last Christmas he gave me a beautiful fluffy spa robe, and bags of gorgeous spa products. It was a long time coming - but he got there. lol
Now we usually just buy ourselves what we want. No dissappointments then and eases the pressure of having to choose something.
It's not easy getting our men to understand us!!!! We really are from Venus, and them from Mars!
(have you ever read that book? By about page 3 I knew I must have driven my ex crazy!!! LOL)