My “Oh, no!” of Christmas Eve

After telling Laurel that I'd finished wrapping her presents, this wasn’t the question that I wanted to hear on Christmas Eve: “You probably forgot to get me the only present that I asked for, didn’t you?” My calm audible response was, “Ah, um…of course I didn’t forget.”

But inside my head a voice was screaming “Oh, no!” And the worst thing was, at first I couldn’t remember what the requested present was that I had forgotten. Which made sense, of course, yet still was disturbing.

Because I couldn’t ask Laurel what it was I’d forgotten without making my horrendous lapse completely obvious. So I trusted that the God of Forgetful Husbands would come to my rescue. Which she did, a few minutes later.

A sewing machine. Laurel had mentioned several times how much she disliked her current ancient machine, and how nice it would be to have a new model that actually sewed reliably.

I have no idea how this Christmas present request escaped from the bounds of my memory. I remembered several other Laurel-wishes that were stated less distinctly than this one. Perhaps it’s because sewing machines are such a mystery to me (I’ve never used one and have no idea how they work) that the notion of buying one on my own was unable to find a footing in my mind.

Anyway, I made up a colorful “I.O.U. a sewing machine” note on my new laser printer (funny how I never forget to get me the stuff I want), wrapped it up, and had Laurel open the envelope first thing today.

I made a feeble attempt to pretend that the reason I hadn’t gotten the machine was that I needed her advice about what model to buy. However, Laurel’s finely honed wife-intuition saw through me so easily I quickly gave up and said, “Yes, it slipped my mind. But while you were walking the dog today I spent over an hour exploring the confusing world of sewing machines. Here are some models I think you’d like.”

Confession is good for the soul. I felt better coming clean. And I felt even better this afternoon when I put in an online order for a basic mechanical Brother that promises to meet Laurel’s relatively simple mend-and-alter sewing needs.

If any sewing machine aficionados read this, I’d appreciate learning whether you think I made a decent choice (Consumer Reports, my tried and true shopping guru, has given other Brother models high ratings).

Having let down one person close to my heart today, I don’t want to make it two. So even though I usually studiously avoid passing on chain letters and similar Internet missives, I’m pleased to make an exception for Randy Smith and his R Blog—where he recently posted the trendy Meme of Four and passed it on to me.

Here’s my response to the game. I had the most trouble answering the movie question, as I rarely see movies twice. Back in my school days I remember seeing “Goldfinger” four times, so I had to put that flick down.

On the places I’d rather be front, my answer was tinged by mid-afternoon hunger caused by a mild fast in anticipation of our 3:00 pm reservation for the Christmas buffet at downtown Salem’s Marco Polo restaurant.

My succinct review of the meal is great. They offered terrific vegetarian/vegan alternatives to the meat entrees. If you’re ever in Salem, give the Marco Polo a try. You won’t regret it.
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Four jobs you’ve had in your life: Cannery worker, medical school research associate, health planner, non-profit executive director

Four movies you could watch over and over: LA Story, Annie Hall, Goldfinger, Shrek

Four places you’ve lived: El Paso, Texas; Three Rivers, California; Portland, Oregon; Salem, Oregon

Four TV shows you love to watch: Survivor, Lost, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Daily Show

Four places you’ve been on vacation: Maui, Hawaii; Camp Sherman, Oregon; Victoria, B.C.; Fiji

Four websites you visit daily: New York Times, ORblogs, Daily Kos, BlueOregon

Four of your favorite foods: Strawberries, grapes, spinach lasagna, tempe

Four places you’d rather be: Heaven, Best Buy store holding a $100,000 gift card, Maui beach with the surf up, Marco Polo restaurant
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Handing this off to Keith Ecklund.

Comments

[Jack Bog]

I never would have picked out a sewing machine for my spouse. Even with plenty of forethought, a gift certificate was the only way to go when the time came a few years ago.

Spouses that can sew -- some guys have all the luck, don't we?

[Keith]

And here I was, thinking it was going to be a meme-free Christmas. I'll give it a ponder sometime today and pass it on.