Surprise!

I love surprises at Christmas. I've always been that way. As kids, we never knew what we were getting under the tree, and I loved the anticipation and elation that came with unwrapping the unknown. It's hard to be surprised by most of my family, especially Hubby's side. They tell everything they know. They can't help themselves. Even when they try to keep a secret it eventually comes tumbling out before its intended release date. It drives me crazy that I always know what I'm getting from them for Christmas. This year is different. Hubby pulled one over on me. As we say in these parts, he got me good.

I needed to go to the local mall today to pick up a few small, last gifts. He grumbled about going there. He pretended to miss the turnoff. He pretended to take the back streets to the mall. He acted like he was going to take me to the back of the mall and drop me off. Except he pulled into...a jewelry store. Now, he's not a jewelry present kind of guy. Heck, he's not even a roses kind of guy. That's okay because he's a do the laundry, vaccum the floor kind of guy, and that's way better than roses. We never buy each other gifts for our anniversary, and we don't get carried away with Christmas presents. We tend to buy each other practical things. I spend a lot of time joking about gifts of jewelry, but never in my wildest dreams do I expect small boxes of gems under the tree. Never. I mean, never. That's why I was so floored that he had picked out a piece of jewelry for me and wanted to make sure I liked it. I liked it...a lot. I mean alot. I wanted to cry. I'm a sentitmental old poop you know. I didn't cry because I didn't want to embarrass him, but it was all I could do to hold back the tears. I managed to until he dropped me off at the mall. I'm sure the folks in the Hallmark store and Victoria's Secret were wondering why I was bawling all over the cards and lingerie. It's because I have such a wonderful husband. Wonderful, not because he will buy me jewelry, but because after nineteen years, he still thinks I'm worth orchestrating a surprise for. Oh, and because I refuse to open gifts or reveal them before Christmas morning, I'm not telling what the item is. I'm going to be naughty and make you wait until December 25th. And don't give me that "it's not fair" line. I want to surprise you. I think it's worth waiting for.