Difference between revisions of "Gift of the Magi"
(Created page with "I'm sure many of you remember O'Henry's Gift of the Magi. I now have a similar story, sort of. Three weeks before Valentine's Day, Terri and I went shopping in Ballston Spa. ...") |
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| − | I'm sure many of you remember O | + | <div class="floatright"><span>[[Image:Travers1999.png|512px]]</span></div> |
| + | I'm sure many of you remember [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Gift_of_the_magi O. Henry's Gift of the Magi]. I now have a | ||
similar story, sort of. | similar story, sort of. | ||
Three weeks before Valentine's Day, Terri and I went shopping in | Three weeks before Valentine's Day, Terri and I went shopping in | ||
| − | Ballston Spa. We stopped at Stone Soup Antiques and the Front Street | + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ballston_spa Ballston Spa]. We stopped at [http://www.stonesoupantiquesgallery.com/ Stone Soup Antiques] and the [http://www.frontstreethomedesign.com/ Front Street |
| − | Home Design Center. Front Street has a complete set of Saratoga | + | Home Design Center]. Front Street has a complete set of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travers_Stakes Saratoga |
| − | Travers Day Posters. I noticed one on the floor, Travers 1999, signed | + | Travers Day] Posters. I noticed one on the floor, Travers 1999, signed |
| − | by many of the jockeys that raced on that Travers Day. Jerry | + | by many of the jockeys that raced on that Travers Day. [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jerry_Bailey Jerry Bailey], |
| − | Jose Santos, Edgar Prado, Pat Day, John | + | [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jose_Santos Jose Santos], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Edgar_Prado Edgar Prado], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pat_Day Pat Day], [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Velazquez John Velazquez] and many |
more. Something also caught Terri's eye, a hand made, heart shaped | more. Something also caught Terri's eye, a hand made, heart shaped | ||
necklace. She tried it on and liked it, but, for some reason, didn't | necklace. She tried it on and liked it, but, for some reason, didn't | ||
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A week later, after lunch with some former GE folks, I went to | A week later, after lunch with some former GE folks, I went to | ||
| − | Ballston Spa to buy the heart necklace. Over the years I' | + | Ballston Spa to buy the heart necklace. Over the years I've learned |
to be alert for gift ideas. I figured that since Terri | to be alert for gift ideas. I figured that since Terri | ||
liked that necklace, it would make a great Valentine gift. After | liked that necklace, it would make a great Valentine gift. After | ||
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The next morning, at home, Terri received a call from Front | The next morning, at home, Terri received a call from Front | ||
Street. Turns out, she and a girlfriend had lunch the previous day in | Street. Turns out, she and a girlfriend had lunch the previous day in | ||
| − | Ballston Spa. | + | Ballston Spa. After lunch, they stopped in Front Street to browse. Terri decided |
she wanted the necklace after all. But, it was gone. The shopkeeper | she wanted the necklace after all. But, it was gone. The shopkeeper | ||
| − | told her a young woman had just | + | told her a young woman had just bought it. She told Terri |
| − | she would check with the artist to see if she had more. On the phone | + | she would check with the artist to see if she had more necklaces. On the phone |
call, the shopkeeper told Terri that there were no more necklaces. I | call, the shopkeeper told Terri that there were no more necklaces. I | ||
| − | was relieved and appreciated that the shopkeeper had recognized | + | was relieved and appreciated that the shopkeeper had recognized Terri |
and kept my secret. | and kept my secret. | ||
On Valentine's Day I surprised Terri with the necklace. She loved it, | On Valentine's Day I surprised Terri with the necklace. She loved it, | ||
| − | of course. I told her my story. She gave me | + | of course. I told her my story. She gave me car wash tickets... |
Last week, two weeks after Valentine's Day, Terri surprised me with a | Last week, two weeks after Valentine's Day, Terri surprised me with a | ||
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stored it at her girlfriend's house, to keep until Valentine's | stored it at her girlfriend's house, to keep until Valentine's | ||
Day. Because her girlfriend had a family death just before Valentine's | Day. Because her girlfriend had a family death just before Valentine's | ||
| − | Day, Terri couldn't | + | Day, Terri couldn't retrieve the gift until now. |
Now she has her necklace (hair) and I have my poster (watch). | Now she has her necklace (hair) and I have my poster (watch). | ||
Revision as of 15:51, 2 March 2014
I'm sure many of you remember O. Henry's Gift of the Magi. I now have a similar story, sort of.
Three weeks before Valentine's Day, Terri and I went shopping in Ballston Spa. We stopped at Stone Soup Antiques and the [http://www.frontstreethomedesign.com/ Front Street Home Design Center]. Front Street has a complete set of [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Travers_Stakes Saratoga Travers Day] Posters. I noticed one on the floor, Travers 1999, signed by many of the jockeys that raced on that Travers Day. Jerry Bailey, Jose Santos, Edgar Prado, Pat Day, John Velazquez and many more. Something also caught Terri's eye, a hand made, heart shaped necklace. She tried it on and liked it, but, for some reason, didn't buy it.
A week later, after lunch with some former GE folks, I went to Ballston Spa to buy the heart necklace. Over the years I've learned to be alert for gift ideas. I figured that since Terri liked that necklace, it would make a great Valentine gift. After lunch, I returned to Front Street and the necklace was still there. I bought it. The shopkeeper recognized me from my recent visit with Terri.
The next morning, at home, Terri received a call from Front Street. Turns out, she and a girlfriend had lunch the previous day in Ballston Spa. After lunch, they stopped in Front Street to browse. Terri decided she wanted the necklace after all. But, it was gone. The shopkeeper told her a young woman had just bought it. She told Terri she would check with the artist to see if she had more necklaces. On the phone call, the shopkeeper told Terri that there were no more necklaces. I was relieved and appreciated that the shopkeeper had recognized Terri and kept my secret.
On Valentine's Day I surprised Terri with the necklace. She loved it, of course. I told her my story. She gave me car wash tickets...
Last week, two weeks after Valentine's Day, Terri surprised me with a gift. Yes, it was the autographed 1999 Travers' Poster. Shortly after I bought the necklace, she bought the poster that I had admired. She stored it at her girlfriend's house, to keep until Valentine's Day. Because her girlfriend had a family death just before Valentine's Day, Terri couldn't retrieve the gift until now.
Now she has her necklace (hair) and I have my poster (watch).
