The past few years, I’ve really missed the mark on Sunny’s birthdays. Actually, that’s an understatement. The blunders I’ve committed on her past two birthdays have been of epic proportions. Allow me to explain.
Historically, I’ve not done that poorly. I mean, I’ve never considered myself to be all that romantic, but I’ve had a track record of decent gifts over the years. Our dog, Andy, was a gift for our first anniversary. For Christmas a few years back, I completely updated Sunny’s CD collection, purchasing about 40 new discs for her and secretly slipping them into her CD holder. But lately, I’ve been in something of a slump.
Two years ago, Sunny was in her final trimester of pregnancy. Of course, this presented a unique gift-purchasing challenge. Travel — one of my wife’s favorite things to do — was out for obvious reasons. (Sunny was put on bed-rest in early May, thwarting my plans to take her to a Cardinals game.) I had to strike clothing from the list as well. What woman wants maternity clothing for her birthday? Even staple items like shoes and jewelry were out due to pregnancy-induced swelling. I’d given her lotion for Christmas and the previous birthday, so no dice there either. You can see my quandry. What’s a guy to do? The mall was no help; Internet shopping yielded no results. Time was running short. The pressure was on.
Then, I settled on the perfect gift. Sunny’s always been a sports fan and since our favorite past-time — major league baseball — was out, I found something that would suit her perfectly.
A gift replete with local charm and ambiance.
A gift that expressed the totality of my love for my wife.
I bought her arena football tickets.
Yes, that’s right, my wife rang in her 26th birthday on the front row of a Huntsville Vipers Arena Football game. Fifty-yard line, baby. I even sprung for popcorn. Sweet.
Well, after that fiasco, I figured I couldn’t do any worse. I was wrong. Last year I committed the cardinal sin.
I forgot her birthday.
In my defense, I had been extremely busy with work and grad school and babies. Sunny was even hospitalized for several days last May, which obviously pushed gift purchasing to the back burner. But let’s face it: there’s never any excuse for forgetting your wife’s birthday, right? I was able to run out that evening and pick up a few last minute things for her, but by that point, the damage was done. I was busted.
To her credit, Sunny always handles my gifting ineptitude with grace and kindness. (Which is worse: completely forgetting or remembering but botching the gift? Seems like botching the gift is the lesser of two evils here. But either way, I’m a doofus.) On top of everything, she goes out and gets me an XM Radio for my birthday, probably the best gift I’ve ever received.
So this year, I’m going on record here: this will be a birthday to remember, Sunny. It’s the Year of Jubilee. Past sins have been forgotten, the page has been turned. Prepare to be amazed. You’re going to love what I’m getting you. I promise.
So, anybody got any good ideas?
already & not yet 
What stressed out, worn out wife wouldn’t be impressed if her Man took the time to plan in detail a getaway for the two of them??? CHeck out http://www.whitestoneinn.com. This is a heavenly B&B nestled in 300 acres of paradise near Kingston TN. Book a weekend for yourselves. Arrive early afternoon in time to boat, hike, swing, before sun down. Book a massage for Sunny. Then have a dinner reservation at the inn for their multi-course gourmet production while being serranaded by a violinist. Then you can go back to your suite and relax, watch TV, play ping pong, or pool, or just read. Trust me, this will win you a huge credit in the emotions bank. You could probably skip the BD next year. Anyway the best part of all this is the proprietor is a Christian and wants ministers and missionaries and wives to have a place to refresh themselves. HE offers 50% discount to ministers and 100% discount to missionaries! SO take a look and let us know ifyou want us to keep AK and J!Take careBIGSIS
Dude, let me get in on your sis’s idea. Tracy turns the big 30 a week from today.
You can never go wrong with that pampering stuff also. You know, the day spa kinda stuff (If Sunny is in to that, some people aren’t).
Tara,Thanks for the heads up. That actually sounds like a good idea. Thing is…there’s hardly a weekend that we’d be able to do this for the forseeable future. Might work this Friday / Saturday. I need to get on the ball.Lane,I’ve thought about the day spa thing. She’d probably like that. I think.Scott,Tracy and I are the same age…I’d forgotten that. By the way, cute pic of you and Shayla on your blog. Didn’t recognize you at first with the Andy Garcia coiffure.
Hey, how about a Pepperdine t-shirt?
That’d be an improvement over the previous two years, that’s for sure!
Hey Mike, did you see that Jason left another comment to me on his own blog?
Shut up.
I got it!! Mrs. Bybee, do NOT read this. Stop. It. Leave.It’s for your own good.I’m trying to save you the angst of opening another one of Jason’s lame attempts.Okay. She’s gone.Listen, Jason. I’ve got the perfect idea. Stationery.:) She probably is the thoughtful type, right? Is she the type that sends “thank you” notes and “I hope you feel better” cards?Get her presonalized, classy stationery — it’ll cost you like $60 and she’ll be surprised that you went to the effort to choose the style, font, and heft of the paper… but you can do it all online.Just a thought.N
Sixty bucks for paper? Man, I’m in the wrong business.That’s not a bad idea, Nancy. The missus is actually quite thoughtful (unlike her husband). She actually enjoys writing thank you notes. But I’m thinking of getting her a laptop computer for her birthday. I’m thinking this because she told me twice that’s what she wants. And she also told my sister. And her mother. So I’m thinking a laptop, right?
Jason, that’s sheer brilliance (and so male)–buy an electronic gizmo that, ahem, you both can use.
$60 bucks for paper? Is it recycled? Environmentally friendly?If I spend 60 bucks on paper it better have US Grant on one and Alexander Hamilton on the other.A lap-top, now that’s a great idea.Or a DVD recorder.How about a video IPOD?Or an XBox 360?Just brainstorming here.
I thought so, Mike. This will rank right up there with the year she wanted some Birkenstocks and I purchased us both a pair. I still haven’t lived that down.Getting her a computer will also inevitably add to my readership (and comments) as I’m sure she’ll be checking every half-hour to read my latest ruminations. So it’s a win – win.
“This will rank right up there with the year she wanted some Birkenstocks and I purchased us both a pair. I still haven’t lived that down.”Oh my, it’s worse than I thought.
Okay, okay…You’re right, personalized stationery is quite expensive — but that’s what makes it nice! Maybe one day y’all will get a personal note from me, and you’ll hold the heavy card in your hand and say, “Now that’s worth it.”So get her an Apple iBook. That’s what I got for Christmas, and it’s dreamy.NJ
I have an iBook…it’s awesome. That’s probably the direction I’ll go. That way she can write e-mail thank you notes.
Hey man, if you’re going to get her a laptop, to go along with Nancy’s suggestion (oh, by the way, hey Nancy…I’m Lane), you should get her one of those card maker programs. If she is the thoughtful kind, then buy that and some cardstock paper for her and let her go wild.
Nothing like a great set of power tools or a big screen plasma tv that says “I Love You” all over it !I’m not helping much here am I? I’m in the same boat as you are and I have to sometimes depend on friends for creative suggestions.You may already do it, but a day & night for her without kids is a wonderful thing.
Nope. I know what you need to get her. Help her build up her DVD collection like she did for you. Get her all her favorites. You know, like “Terminator”, “Platoon”, and “There’s Something About Mary”… That counts as a chick flick, right?
Hey Lane! good idea. I just bought some wonderful stationery, and now I can’t afford to send the kids to college. :)Jason, ignore Jake.
Jason, you and Scott are just too much alike. I can’t decide to laugh or cry at all of this. Book the massage and facial. She’ll love it.
zxGreat blog, great story for reading!http://www.jewelrygreatgift.com