“I wanted a perfect ending. Now I've learned, the hard way, that some poems don't rhyme, and some stories don't have a clear beginning, middle, and end. Life is about not knowing, having to change, taking the moment and making the best of it, without knowing what's going to happen next. Delicious Ambiguity.”Gilda Radner

Thursday, October 13, 2011

Sweater Blanket

So my birthday is in two days. I let Joey and Noah know the expectation: all celebrations begin on Friday and last through Sunday night, Monday if we (I) feel so inclined.

I have learned the hard way that if I have high expectations for my birthday, it's best to just let everyone know exactly what those expectations are. I only get one week for myself a year, after all, and it's pretty much the only time I get away with being, well, completely myself.

One of the most important aspects of this is just flat out TELLING my husband Joe what I want. I was once one of those silly girls who just waited stupidly for her fella to "just know" what she wanted, and then felt horrible when I was presented with socks from The Dollar Store (last year's gift).

Joe is a pretty remarkably intelligent person, and I often credit him with this bit of brilliance, something he shared with me years ago (and has since regretted): "Birthday gifts should be something you WANT, not something you NEED."

This year, I decided I really want the cream colored cable knit blanket for Pottery Barn. It is a blanket that looks like it is made out of a sweater. Hence, I call it the Sweater Blanket.

For the record, pretty much anything from Pottery Barn could be a birthday gift. Let's face it. No one really NEEDS ANYTHING from Pottery Barn. (Unless you NEED an antique jute rope.)

I mentioned the Sweater Blanket to Joe a couple weeks back, giving him plenty of time to process its frivolity, its price, and its potential to be a gift from ANYONE who said, "What does Mary Pat want?" It didn't have to come from Joe.

But this means that Joe probably forgot the Sweater Blanket by now.

Today, I sent him a subtle email that read simply, "Did you make sure I'm getting the Sweater Blanket? My hopes are on it." He replied with, "Gee, I hope so."

On the phone this evening, I said with less nonchalance, "I REALLY can't wait for my Sweater Blanket!"

Joe burst out laughing. "What?" I asked, not understanding the response.

"It's just so ridiculous. Who makes a BLANKET out of a SWEATER? If you're cold, either put on a sweater OR a blanket. Who wears both?"

"Who do you know who is cold enough to wear both at once?" I said pointedly. Joe only laughed harder.

Let him laugh. As long as I get my Sweater Blanket, Joe can laugh all he likes. Happy Birthday to me!


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