Yankee Drawl

Posted By jayna on December 29, 2010

Attention! Everyone! Can I have everyone’s attention, please?

I have an announcement to make . . . a very important and unexpected one . . .

.

.

.

My husband did it. He purchased, wrapped remembered to request it wrapped, and attempted to surprise me with one of the most awesome gifts ever. Granted, he failed miserably at the whole element of surprise, leaving the purchase up in the search history just as I got on the computer, but we can’t all have everything.

For years now, the joke has been building. No one dares gift me with anything, knowing full well it will probably end up returned before the end of the year. The list goes on and on. The winter hat that was itchy and made me look like a goof, the sweater that should have been sent to my mother, on and on. The only one that tries (and fails miserably) is the husband. Convinced, year after year, that this is it! And, year after year, I have to let him down gently that, no, I really didn’t want that insanely expensive piece of outdoor gear that I’ll never use.

This time, I tried. I really did. I tried to help everyone out. I made the most detailed list I could think of. I ranged prices from high to low, I picked electronics to purfume and everything in between. Topping of the list was a 35mm lens for my camera, followed closely behind by a Kitchenaid mixer. Both highly coveted, both highly unlikely.

The holidays approached quickly, and I found myself in a baking frenzy and just went out and bought myself the darn mixer. Merry Christmas, me. I counted my pennies that I had left, waiting to pull the trigger on that lens purchase. And then, the husband announced that he was going to get me something, but it hadn’t worked out. I guessed, just one time, and got it right, thanking my lucky stars that I had figured it out, because it happened to be something firmly planted on my “do not buy this under any circustances” list. Apparently he hadn’t gotten the memo on that one.

So, plan thwarted, he sat down that night to find a present. For an hour, he perused my list, then stood up and claimed it was on its way. He handed the computer over, kissed me goodnight and headed upstairs. I held in my discovery for a mere hour before I woke him up, giggling like a silly girl, that I knew what he had gotten me.

Surprise, thwarted.

I thwart.

Knowing what was headed for under the tree, I started my research. This present was nowhere on my list and I started to worry. Visions of a repeat of all Christmases past danced in my head as I made mental notes to keep the return label when we opened the box.

Christmas came, wrapping paper flew and I clicked my new lens onto my camera. Away we went, testing it out all over the house, hoping to love it a little more with each picture.

I didn’t.

I hated it.

It was shaky and dull and terrible to use.

The husband was sorely dissappointed. I was dissappointed. The poor lens was dissappointed.

Lenses need a home, too, afterall.

Today, we headed outside and I decided to give it one more try. One more chance to see if it could fit in with my demands. Two clicks later and I liked it. Six more and I was in love. Two hours of playing around and I’m convinced this is going to prove to be the best present my husband has ever given me so far.

Welcome to your new home, little Tamron AF 90mm f/2.8. Welcome home.

**The only thing that makes this little chain of events so very funny (at least, to me) is that the next thing I opened was a Kitchenaid mixer from my mother – 5 days after I had bought my own**

Jayna. Ruining Christmas gifts since at least 2005.

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