The Birthday Week...
Yesterday marked the first day of the infamous birthday week. For those of you who are not familiar with the birthday week allow me to explain. The birthday week is a novel concept to which my wife subscribes. Basically, it is when someone likes to celebrate their birthday for not just one day, but an entire week. Michelle’s birthday is Nov. 9 which is next Friday. As such, we are on day 2 of the 7 day ordeal. Typically, this involves special treatment, extra relaxing time, daily gifts and a plethora of other lovely things. The catch this year is that birthday week will now cost twice as much as it has in the past. This is a direct result of having a baby who now has to buy gifts for mommy on special days! It’s a good thing Maya is creative and buys really good presents because daddy isn’t very good at that sort of thing.
I toyed with the idea of entitling this post as “The Rational Woman”. The whole fam was at Whole Foods today. While there, Michelle was showing me a pair of moccasin type shoes that she found at one of her new favorite second hand stores for $5 which cost $35 at the store. While showing me, she happened to notice that they sold the same type of shoes/slippers for adults. Of course, she decided that this would be A perfect birthday gift. So, she asks whether or not she can get them for her birthday. I said that she could as I was going to get her some new shoes/boots anyways. Then, as if I needed to hear this, she begins to rationalize why she needs to have these slippers. “Well these ARE lifers.” “I have been wanting a pair of slippers for around the house for a while now.” “I hate walking barefoot.” “They are SO comfortable.” “They are TOTALLY cute.” Then comes my favorite part of this whole ordeal, “Lets put them in the cart and walk around with them for a while.” At this point, the slippers are helpless, they are, whether they like it or not, coming home in a paper (or plastic) bag with a receipt that says bought and paid for. So, the slippers are now in the cart along for the obligatory walk through the store.
Perhaps you have to be present for one of these to fully appreciate what I am describing. As I sat there watching her rationalize the purchase of these slippers, I became more and more amazed at how the female mind works. In a matter of 45 seconds, she had raised the questions that someone (say a husband) might have asked and then proceeded to overcome every objection. The impressive thing to me is that she does this out loud and acts as if overcoming her own objections is the end all be all to making the purchase. And this is great, it is like watching a mini movie where Michelle not only plays the customer, but also the sales person. She is playing two roles.
On our way to the check-out line, I ask if Michelle has made her decision yet? “Hang on, I gotta try them on one more time.” “You don’t think they are too big do you?” This was more to herself, but I felt the need to respond, “How should I know, I’m not wearing them?” And at last, we come to the verdict, “I like them. I’m going to get them.” Present number 2 of birthday week!
I walk out of the store wondering how many more things and how much more money I will have to shell out to which ever retailer is lucky enough to have the worlds greatest saleswoman......my wife, Michelle. At least, she is a really big fan of the slippers, note how she even sleeps in them.....how cute is my crazy wife.....I’m a lucky guy!!!
Saturday, November 3, 2007
