We’re two days into my favorite time of the year. Ruth’s a year older than me until the end of May. In spite of her advancing years, she’s holding up pretty well. This is her diamond anniversary. No, I didn’t buy her diamonds, but at seventy-five, it’s her diamond year. I am taking a public vow, right now, that I will purchase a new diamond on our seventy-fifth wedding anniversary. I just hope my memory is sharp and I remember when it rolls around.
When Queen Victoria of England’s sixtieth year as Queen began, they called it her Diamond Jubilee. As a result, some say sixty years is our diamond anniversary. Emily Post developed the more traditional list of anniversary celebrations, and she chose seventy-five for diamonds, so I’m sticking with Emily.
I did buy Ruth a couple of gifts. We don’t always buy gifts for each other, so she was a bit surprised. I purchased tickets to an upcoming event here in The Villages, a gift certificate to Barnes and Noble, and a new piece of golf equipment to go with the two sets of golf clubs I bought her last year. One set is in Florida and the other in Michigan. With two identical sets she doesn’t have to move them back and forth.
I also surprised her with three new tops. Guys call them shirts, but gals call them tops. Two are white and one is red, white and blue. One of the white ones is more formal than the other as it has a embroidered design down the front. The second is rather plain, but it will work well under an over-shirt. She likes to dress in layers.
I knew she liked them when I found them in her closet with the new tags still intact. They’ve been hanging there for heaven knows how long, perhaps years, so I wrapped them up. I was hoping she wouldn’t notice, but she did. As she opened the red, white and blue one, she said, “I bought one like this about a week ago.” My reply was simple. “We must have similar tastes.”
When she opened the first white one, she said, “You got these out of my closet. I bought this one about four years ago.” The jig was up. In any case, it’s the thought that counts. Perhaps after taking another look at her treasures, she’ll actually wear them.
I considered reenacting this scene from a recent cartoon post. Upon second thought, I took a pass. She might not find it as humorous as I did. You can only push so far.
