THE NICEST GIFT EVER
The other day a friend was about to chuck out some wilted roses. We'd just been having a heart to heart about his fiancé and he'd confided in me that when she's upset or aggravated it helps to 'put her in water'. Smiling at his wit and wisdom, I grabbed the roses.
The other day a friend was about to chuck out some wilted roses. We'd just been having a heart to heart about his fiancé and he'd confided in me that when she's upset or aggravated it helps to 'put her in water'. Smiling at his wit and wisdom, I grabbed the roses.
'Mmm, wait. Water isn't just good for bad moods,' I replied. 'Run her a bath with her favourite oils, and sprinkle the petals all over the water. Just because.'
He did. He even made a trail of petals leading to the bathroom. I can tell you it got them in the mood! But then again, you never can tell…
I once met a hot, Californian, lover in the sultry city of Istanbul and was surprised to find myself drowned in gifts. It was a gift enough to see his face, his arms and his smile again after five months apart. He gave me clothes, trinkets from San Francisco and even Jelly Bellies (which are hot property on the sweet tooth market, mind you. Especially on the edge of the Middle East, where oil is gold and water is diamonds!). Feeling like I'd just gotten the cream and the cat, I looked at him in wonder and wondered what next. Then he dropped the bomb. He'd had more lovers in our few months apart than I'd had in my whole life and he hadn't bothered to tell me, as we'd agreed. He'd also decided that as much as he wanted a fairytale adventure with me in the land of blue turbans and bright skies, he didn't want a relationship beyond that – even though he said he was 'deeply in love' with me.
His guilt – not his love and adoration – had prompted him to spoil me and that really spoilt it for me. But being a slow learner in the Art of Love and a bit of a sucker for the promise of love (even when it's just been broken), I gave in to the illusion. But after Turkey, and a lot of heartbreak, I gave away all his lovely little gifts. To bergies (and friends who'd warned me about him).
The lesson? The real gift is in the intention. Find out why he's doing what he's doing before you gush your 'Thank Yous'. And if you really mean it, spoil him right back with something sublime.
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