Only the Coolest Gift EV-ER!

My Christmas was a bit of a fizzle. I'll skip the details, because who wants a big old whine coming off the heels of the holidays? Not to mention, there was this one really amazing, actually breathtaking moment that trumps all the poo-poo. And that is the moment I will share with you.

So our five year anniversary was recently. I'm not a big gift giver/receiver for anniversaries. I just feel like it's more stuff cluttering up my home and my life, and I'd much rather go out and do something with my man. Clearly, however, that wasn't an option this year. But would you please check out this gift???:

It came in a small wooden crate.


I slid open the cover, and found inside a glass bottle, with a message printed on the outside which read, "It doesn't matter where you go or how much you acquire. It's who you have beside you that really matters." Pretty impressive that my man knows how to say, "I know you don't really like presents, but whatever. This year you're getting one and you're gonna love it."


A small, round piece of shell hung from the neck, with the logo etched into it. The detail was amazing.


The cork-stopped bottle was filled with rose petals. A fine silver strand of ribbon stuck out from within, where it held a tightly bound piece of parchment.



Penned on the parchment (well, probably printed by an HP laser printer, not really "penned"... but I digress.) were some expressions of sentiment so simple and yet so moving, that I had to react quickly to prevent my tears from ruining the gift.


I am quite certain that the burden of gifting is now forever lifted, as this could never be topped. We peaked at five years, so from here on out it's dinner and dancing.

I had no idea I was capable of loving a man so completely, so unconditionally, and with so much of who I am. Whenever I express my feelings for him, though, I feel like I need to make sure people understand that it's not all roses all the time. We disagree, we argue, and occasionally we fight in an ugly way. We roll our eyes in irritation, we shake our heads in confusion, we tolerate things we wish we could change. Our marriage is a work in progress, but without a doubt, a labor of love.

Go do something nice for the person you love. That little effort won't fix all your problems, but it will make you more willing to work at them. You will feel more grateful to have that person in your life.

I love my husband.