Christmas is a tradition that is followed by families around the world. There are many similarities to the way they may celebrate the holiday but there are also going to be differences from one family to the next.
Sometimes, we may get a gift and it comes from the heart. That really makes us feel good when we see a gift like that. On the other hand, some of them may have an ulterior motive.
That is what we see in the following story where a husband gave his wife a gift that many wives would be upset with. She was also upset when she learned the motive behind it but she got even the next year.
This was about 23 years ago. My husband was lousy at giving gifts. He would get what he wanted for himself.
That year, I came home to a large box wrapped up, about 10 days before Christmas and he said it was for me. He was so excited. Mind you, we have always been pretty broke, so we (or should I say I) always bought for our children and his greedy family (MIL demands). We always did without.
For some reason, I wasn’t that excited about this gift. Intuition. Well Christmas Eve comes and we open gifts. He gets all excited, telling me that I am going to love this present. I open the box, to find…. A ShopVac. We had hardwood and linoleum so I always swept and mopped and had no need for it. He told me that it is wonderful because it cleans up the garage, his domain. Even picks up water. And he said it worked great cause he already tried it before wrapping it up. I was pissed!!!!! He bought it for himself. I would have been happy with a $5 necklace that turned my neck green.
That night, I wouldn’t even go to bed with him. He comes into the living room where I was laying down at and told me to come to bed. I told him I wouldn’t because I couldn’t look at him. He then tells me how I was extremely selfish because gifts were to be what we as a family could use, not what we would want.
I laid there all night and plotted my revenge. I had to wait for a year, but like they say, best served cold. I kept quiet and told nobody of my plan for revenge.
50 weeks later I found it. I wasn’t even looking for it, but it was staring right at me as to say here I am and it is time. It was in a huge box. I quickly purchase the gift, got some wrapping paper for it and hid it. Didn’t want any sneaky Pete’s.
Christmas Eve, while he was at work, I put the present under the tree. Took two rolls of cheap wrapping paper and I put some ribbon and a bow on it. It also had a nice weight for it.
We start opening gifts, and I wait a bit. Finally, his eyes light up seeing this big box and finding out it was his. He was so excited, and I told him that this is specially bought for him.
He opens the box, to find a case of toilet paper. I then quoted him. Christmas was not for what we would want but what we as a family need or could use. We all wipe. He was furious.
He complained to his brothers and everyone. My family and his brothers told him that he deserved the toilet paper.
To this day, no husband in my family will ever by a vacuum cleaner for their wives as gifts.
