Anniversary Gifts Revised
Any of my faithful readers use the traditional or modern suggestions for anniversary gifts? Today SOS and I celebrate four years of marriage. If we want to go the traditional route in our gift exchange, we'll do the fruit and flowers thing. Or we could be modern and exchange appliances. At least, so says About.com.
Good thing I married a traditional sort of guy.
This, however, isn't why I'm writing. Associating specific kinds of gifts with certain anniversaries has a history far older than I had imagined, which is why I think it is time for an update.
Instead of the gifts being symbolic of the depth of the couple's commitment (and whoa is that a scary concept: paper? aluminum? Nothing says "Thanks for sticking it out this year, Honey," like a Dixie cup and Reynolds wrap), I want to propose a much more prosaic purpose: replenishing the worn or broken wedding gifts.
For instance, four years ago, SOS and I received glass water goblets, tumblers, and bedside carafe: 19 items in all. Today we broke the last one. What better excuse to get replacement glassware than our anniversary?
Yes, we are only four years into this, but already I see a nice little list forming. There was the year of the cheese slicer early on (why do those break so frequently?) and in another few years, I anticipate the year of the bath towels (Honey, you know that yellow towel... I mean, is that yellow towel a good one for me to dry off the car after I wash it?).
Around 50 years, we'll probably be needing new silverware and if we make it to 80, yes, I'll take a new diamond.
But don't interpret our gifts to be a symbol of the depth of our commitment. I'm hoping I still get flowers and fruit when my nose can't smell anything and I have to find my teeth before I can enjoy the fruit.
Good thing I married a traditional sort of guy.
This, however, isn't why I'm writing. Associating specific kinds of gifts with certain anniversaries has a history far older than I had imagined, which is why I think it is time for an update.
Instead of the gifts being symbolic of the depth of the couple's commitment (and whoa is that a scary concept: paper? aluminum? Nothing says "Thanks for sticking it out this year, Honey," like a Dixie cup and Reynolds wrap), I want to propose a much more prosaic purpose: replenishing the worn or broken wedding gifts.
For instance, four years ago, SOS and I received glass water goblets, tumblers, and bedside carafe: 19 items in all. Today we broke the last one. What better excuse to get replacement glassware than our anniversary?
Yes, we are only four years into this, but already I see a nice little list forming. There was the year of the cheese slicer early on (why do those break so frequently?) and in another few years, I anticipate the year of the bath towels (Honey, you know that yellow towel... I mean, is that yellow towel a good one for me to dry off the car after I wash it?).
Around 50 years, we'll probably be needing new silverware and if we make it to 80, yes, I'll take a new diamond.
But don't interpret our gifts to be a symbol of the depth of our commitment. I'm hoping I still get flowers and fruit when my nose can't smell anything and I have to find my teeth before I can enjoy the fruit.
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