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Tuesday, December 6, 2011

Santa Baby...

Okay, I'm not talking about the kind of guys you see in shots like this, though they are very nice (bad Tina, quit licking the screen).



What I'm referring to are guys that get Christmas from a woman's perspective. From what my friends have said over the years and from my own experience, those kind of men are few and far between.

Let me give you an example.

The first year my husband and I dated, I was giddy about Christmas as only a twenty-something can be. Although I wasn't expecting a ring (we were too new to each other), I was expecting some kind of jewelry. What I got was a clock radio. "So you're not late for work," he said. You see, he owned the newspaper where I worked.

Hmmm. By the look on my face, he knew he'd fallen into a deep hole of doo-doo, especially since I'd given him a gyroscope he'd been eyeing. Don't ask me why those kinds of things interested him, they just did.

The following year, I had no great hopes. We were married by then and I figured I'd get a blender or iron to improve my wifely skills. Christmas Eve, a working day for us, he left for the office earlier than usual, mumbling about deadlines. I trudged in a little later, but before the rest of the crew had arrived. I had a migraine, a pimple the size of Mt. Everest erupting on my chin and just wanted to curl up under the front desk and sleep.

A beautifully decorated envelope on the desk stopped me. It was taped to the wood and had my name on it. Inside was one of the lovliest cards I'd ever seen. What's more, instead of a canned poem being inside, there was my hubby's handwriting, telling me how much he loved me.

I called out his name. No answer. Surely, he was here, I saw his car out front. I went into the guts of the paper. There, on various tables and bookcases were other envelopes with my name on them. There were also gaily wrapped packages. One had a beautiful nightie I'd told him about in passing. The next, a novel I'd been thinking of getting. Another a briefcase I'd seen in an office magazine.

It was hard to read and see all the stuff, I was crying so hard. I ran into his office. He pretended to be on the phone, all serious and busy. I pulled the phone from him, hung up and kissed him hard, babbling about what he'd done. "Oh," he said, "you got to all of it?"

There was more?

At my desk, I saw another small package. It held a diamond and sapphire ring I'd seen at Zales when I went shopping with one of my friends. Clearly, he'd asked her what I wanted. What I liked. How he could please me.

It wasn't the gifts, though they were great. It wasn't even the cards with all of his thoughts written down. It was that he took the time to make Christmas special for me. That he cared enough.

It's a moment I'll never forget. I lost him a few years back from what insurance companies call a 'medical misadventure'. He had a minor ailment and the doctor prescribed the wrong medication. In a flash, he was gone.

But never forgotten. He'll always be my Santa Baby.

I'd love to hear about yours.


14 comments:

Yolande Pienaar said...

Thanks for such an emotional post. You know, I think I must run and kiss my hubby - long and hard. He was never big on presents at Christmas, but ALWAYS on love. According to him, that is the most precious gift he can think of and he gives it in abundance. Thanks for reminding me why I adore him so much.

Paris said...

What a lovely story. Thank you for sharing. Your hubby sounded like a very special man and I'm so sorry you lost him.

I was nineteen and my future hubby was still in the army and I wasn't expecting much because we hadn't been seeing each other long He hadn't even asked what I wanted so I was surprised when I opened a lovely jewelry case containing a pearl necklace that I found out later his sister had picked out for him. I haven't thought about this in years so thanks for the memory jog--like Yolande, I'm giving hubby a great big hug when he gets home.

DeborahR said...

Loved your story! you had me sniffling by the end! Where can we find guys like that??? Hope you have a wonderful Christmas!~

Tina Donahue said...

Thanks for stopping by, Yolande. And do kiss your husband long and hard. :)

Tina Donahue said...

That's a wonderful story, Paris. Thanks for sharing. :)

Tina Donahue said...

Thanks, Deborah - I hope you have a wonderful holiday too. There are great guys out there. I feel very lucky that I found one. :)

Liz said...

what a beautiful and emotional story...I'm still in the 20 year "oh yeah, why did I marry you" stage at times, but if I lost the guy I don't know what I'd do. He always always manages to surprise me at b-day/xmas time (within a week of each other). This year he's taking me and our college age son down to Louisville to see our mighty Cardinals play basketball against Memphis and planned a beer dinner for me with some college buddies.

Tina Donahue said...

Sounds like a great guy, Liz - hope you enjoy your trip. :)

Katalina Leon said...

Tina thank you for sharing this beautiful and sad story. How lucky you were to have him.
XXOO Kat

Tina Donahue said...

Thanks, Kat. I was. :)

Janice Seagraves said...

That post brought tears to my eyes. Your so lucky to have had him but I'm crying over for what you lost.

Janice~

jean hart stewart said...

Loved, loved loved this post. I lost my husband of umpteen years a little over a year ago. Nothing will ever replace my memories, nor do I want to even try. Let's face it, some men are so special you can't describe them...Jean

Tina Donahue said...

Thanks, Janice - it still pains me to think about it. But I was lucky to have found such a wonderful man and to have known him for the short time we had.

Tina Donahue said...

So true, Jean, and I'm sorry for your loss. At least we were lucky enough to have such wonderful men in our lives.

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