My husband is a book freak –that too a tech book freak. Gifting means only one choice that is anything and everything to do with books (I also include boxers, soaps, perfumes which he refuses to buy for himself). I used to give him special watches as gift which he wears once or twice Last couple of years I refused to budge in with his request of books on his wish list. I am really tired of giving him gift certificates and books.
CB is least interested in gadgets unlike typical guys exception being his crazy love for high-speed bikes. He would always ask me if he could take me for a bike ride after our wedding. Well, I never allowed him to get a bike during our first year we spent in India.
I wanted to give him a bike for his 40th birthday this year. I came up with gift idea when we celebrated his 30th birthday. Just two weeks before his birthday, I changed my mind thanks to a sensible friend (designated secret shopper for the bike). It rains almost 9 months in a year and we need to pay monthly insurance which is a waste of money if he is not going to use the bike regularly. Moreover there is absolutely no space in our garage to park the bike. I talked myself out of buying the bike reminding myself about my SAHM status for last 2.5 yrs.
CB takes his books everywhere I mean even to the Salon. Last Christmas I decided to give him a book reader – Kindle. I had an ulterior motive too - to save our office room from books invading every available space. While researching KINDLE, I came upon IPAD . It was way too cool compared to KINDLE. I decided to wait and get IPAD for his special birthday this year.
In order to get him interested in IPAD, I started the “IPAD glorification “campaign. Daily or regularly I would praise about the features of IPAD and compare it with other similar gadgets in the marketplace. But he never showed any interest. I told my plan , when I decided to pre-order IPAD. He argued that he won’t use it . I know he will not even bother to open the package. It has happened way too many times in the last 14 years. I always ended up using all the cool gadgets I gift him. I decided not buy it for practical reasons. I don’t want to waste money on something he is not going to use or enjoy. I don’t want to end up using it since I bought a VAIO laptop for my self in 2008.
To my surprise, I got an early birthday gift - IPAD from CB. He thought I loved IPAD thanks to my IPAD glorification campaign. I loved it but I could have used that money for other high priority items on my list. It's not in my "need list" but in "cool to have list". I can check recipes, read while cooking, check mails,check FB and carry it around the house just like a book.
I have downloaded couple of cool apps for NR and the little guy started monopolizing IPAD usage. I used to gripe about this to CB .
Last Thursday CB surprised us with a second IPAD. CB received an IPAD as a gift from his clients for a project he worked on last April. He said his son is the lucky to get an IPAD ,which unofficially is going to be mine. And I am planning to sell mine on eBay amidst my husband protests.
Last Christmas he received a watch as Christmas gift from his clients. He told me about the watch but never bothered to bring it home. When I pestered him to bring the watch home after three or 4 weeks he brought it home. With just the first glance at the watch box, I knew it’s a pricey watch. Immediately I researched the brand on the net and found the price.
Without telling him the price, I asked CB to take a guess about the price of this watch. He said may be 20 -30 dollars. Well, how does a guy, who never wears a watch will know the worth of a masterpiece?. He never buys any pricey stuff for himself (well he never buys anything for himself for that matter) , but he is always lucky to receive it from others( especially his wife).
When I showed him the price on the net, he was surprised . He said the watch box has been lying on the desk ever since he received it. I am glad that I got curious about this watch. Else he would have given it to one of the carpenters/maistry/drivers who worked for his father during our next India trip. NR will receive this signed watch(signed by his fav person aka appa) when he graduates from high school.
Moral of the story:
1. People receive/get things when they show little or no interests in it.
2. I haven't changed a bit. I listen to good advise from friends and family every single time . I cancelled my plan of ten years with just 15 minutes advise from a friend.
3. I need to make NR buy his own undies starting at an early age. (Whats up with Indian guys waiting for their mother or wife to get their undies ? . At least, this is true for every single male members of my family ).
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