I pride myself on being a good listener, and paying close attention to subtle hints about gifts people might want. But I have decided that I might just be the world's worst gift GIVER. My intentions are always great, and I know that it's the thought that counts, but for the last couple of years I just can't catch a break on Father's Day.
When we were finishing our basement, Jason kept talking about how it would be nice to have a nail gun. So, Father's Day rolls around, and even though we had finished the basement I thought I would get him one because he loves to build things and would use it eventually. So I truck my little female self to Sears and am quite proud of myself for picking out a really nice nail gun that wasn't cheap, but didn't break the bank either. I was so excited to give it to him. He opened it and said, "Wow, this would have been nice to have when we were putting up the baseboards in the basement." I'm just grinning like a Cheshire cat by this time because I think I've done good, right? And then the other shoe drops, "But, honey, I can't really use this for much now." So, I go into my little speech about how I know he just loves building things and now he has a nail gun to do it. Uh, wrong. The nail gun I bought him was for finishing nails, not for actually building things. AND it had to run off of an air compressor...something we didn't even own. Strike #1.
Last year I got it into my head that I was going to buy Jason a canoe for Father's Day. He always talked about what fun he had canoeing as a small boy, and we enjoyed it together as a young married couple. So, I went canoe shopping. I found one I liked that was a lot more money than I had anticipated spending, but hey, he's worth it right? I had the men at the sporting goods place load it into the pickup for me, drove ever so carefully across town with it, pulled into my driveway and thought, crap, how am I going to unload this thing? And where do you hide a 10 foot canoe?? So, a neighbor girl helped me unload it and we slid it underneath the deck at the back of our house. But the stupid thing stuck out a little bit and I just prayed that Jason wouldn't see it before that Sunday. Of course he did, but he's such a good sport that he didn't say anything. So now it's Father's Day and the kids and I are so excited to give him his present and spend the day canoeing with him. We lead him out the back and yell "Surprise!" and he acted like he was surprised. And then he WAS surprised because the stupid canoe was only rated to seat 3 people....and there are 4 of us. Strike #2.
This year I had it all figured out. This year was going to be the year that I get him an awesome gift that he loves and uses all the time.
Our kids started playing Tball this year. What a hilarious sport that is! But, they are learning and getting better all the time. Jason mentioned one day that he would like to have a new baseball mitt, as his is old and not real leather and falling apart. AHA! The perfect Father's Day gift. And one that I actually know something about, being a former All Star fast pitch softball player myself. So, while I was shopping in Omaha with a good friend, we went into a sporting goods store and with the help of the baseball "guru" there, I picked out a beauty of a glove. And once again, the kids and I were so excited for him to open it. He opened it today, and actually LOVED it! Yes! I'd finally done it! I had finally gotten him a gift that he loved and could actually use ON Father's Day! <sigh> Not quite.
It has about a 1 and 1/2 inch CUT on the outside of the mitt where the thumb goes. I bought it right off the rack, and neither the salesman nor I saw it. And once I got home I stashed it away in the top of our closet. Crap. Not to mention it's TOO SMALL! So frustrating. So now we have to go back to Omaha to return it, as we don't have that kind of store here. So much for him using it ON Father's Day to play baseball with his kids.
Next year I'm going to give him a card that reads: Happy Father's Day! Go buy your own darn gift. Much love....
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