That's Life

Thanks to all of you who sent anniversary wishes our way.  We had a very relaxing day with a lovely meal here at home.  Typically, we don't make much of a fuss over our anniversary (unless it ends in a 5 or a 0).  That started when we celebrated our first one.  David was still working on his doctorate, I was still a stewardess, and we didn't have much money (who did?).  We decided that if we gave each other gifts, they should be something we needed for our home and that dining out was too expensive for something that had little lasting value.  Now I smile at our practicality and wonder if I really was hoping he'd wow me with some romantic gesture.  My definition of a romantic gesture has changed considerably, by the way.  Then I probably thought a piece of jewelry or an exotic trip would make my heart throb; now - well, read on to see what I bought for him this year and what I now think is romantic.

You have borne with me as I took you on a frequently interrupted journey through all the museums I have visited recently.  I mentioned the Renwick*  and showed you the nested baskets.  What I didn't tell you is that I visited the museum shop (if you don't know this already, museum shops are the very best in shopping experiences!).  While there, I saw a piece of pottery that stopped me dead in my tracks.  I knew I had to buy it for D's anniversary present.  It has a gorgeous bluish-green-charcoal exterior, a gold interior, and a tree that springs into the air from the rim,  Sound odd?  Ah, but remember D's hobby?  Remember how much more active he has been this year in pursuing his hobby?  I was so excited that I babbled to the salesman as he packed the bowl for shipping about D and his interest in bonsai (and it's a good thing I did).  The tree is a perfect depiction of the "Windswept" form in classic bonsai.  Oh my, was I excited!  I knew D's heart would sing when he opened the package.

Our anniversary arrived, I handed him his gift after our dinner (it was hard to wait all day), and I almost had to sit on my hands to keep from helping him with the package.  He is s-l-ohhh-w and deliberate when opening gifts!  Finally the top was open, most of the packing material was removed, and - you know what happened, don't you - He said, "It's broken!" 

 My heart plummeted. 

Here it is still strapped into its box with some packing material still visible.  The topmost leaf snapped off (see the white part on the top branch? the white under the strap is left-over packing foam) and is lying unseen in the bottom of the bowl itself.  Sigh.  All will be well.  The salesman remembered me (all I had to say was why I had purchased this particular bowl - babbling can have its benefits), they have one bowl left (no guarantee about color), and will exchange.  It will take time, but . . .

You see, today my idea of a romantic gesture is when you know your partner well enough to know what she/he will receive with heartfelt personal pleasure. 

* this is copied from the Renwick Gallery's site:
The Renwick Gallery, a branch of the Smithsonian American Art Museum, features one of the finest collections of American craft in the United States. Its collections, exhibition program and publications highlight the best craft objects and decorative arts from the 19th century to the present. One-of-a-kind pieces created from clay, fiber, glass, metal, and wood from American Art's permanent collection of contemporary craft are displayed on a rotating basis in the second-floor galleries. Popular works include Larry Fuente's Game Fish and Wendell Castle's Ghost Clock.