Elliot turned four today, and Sam and Sarah invited us to a barbecue/birthday party for him along with Sarah's parents and an assortment of friends with cute offspring. Earlier in the day I went to Target to buy him a Tonka truck. I bought him a Tonka truck last year and it was a huge hit. Could I be so bold as to say it was his favorite gift? I have a Tonka fire truck at my house, which is also a popular item.
Anyway, I stood in front of the trucks to decide which was the BEST one, because I'm a competitive and self-absorbed, nasty person (or because I like to bring joy and pleasure to my grandchild--choose one). I found a red one that made noises and had moving parts but then I saw the garbage truck which also made noises and had moving parts plus two garbage men and it was BIGGER than the red truck. I chose the garbage truck. Then I remembered that I had not bought Louis a present for his first birthday in May, so I also bought the red truck for Louis.
Sam brings all the presents out to the back yard, and after the children beat up a pinata, Elliot opens his presents. He is stunned with the garbage truck. I read this as pleasure. Sam walks up to me, smirking: "You bought him that same truck last year." Crap.
"I'm so embarrassed," I say, but that might have been overstating things. Over medicated people don't get embarrassed, nor do we cry. "Go get the truck I bought for Louis," I tell him.
I think Elliot liked it. It's all a blur to me now. I know that Louis played with it for the rest of the evening, so I know he liked it.
Then Sam brings out the red two-wheeler with training wheels. I can state positively that it was the favorite gift this year. Remember your first bike?
Here's the thing: at this writing I cannot identify the truck I originally bought for Louis. I'm sure it was red. Other than that, I don't know. So, I can never again buy a Tonka truck for Elliot or Louis without making a phone call first. And I don't make phone calls.
Later, we stopped by Charles and Erica's where they were hosting a Lindsay open-house for Anne. There I learned that I had bought the same present two years in a row for Harrison, for Max and for Anne.
Why change when you've found the perfect gift?
6 comments:
If you gave money for presents they wouldn't mind getting the same thing every year. But money isn't nearly as fun to open as a dump truck.
Do we really have to choose between the competitive, self-absorbed, nasty 'you' and the joy and pleasure-bringing 'you?' I believe surely you are all of these. Nicht wahr, Anna?
Apple doesn't fall from the tree. I got the same thing from Ed for my birthday two years in a row.
My opinion? You're giving your grandkids presents...it's all good! Not every grandchild gets presents from a loving (and funny) grandma.
I like the competitive you. Topping all the other party guests' presents is like winning queen of the ball.
I found your blog through my daughter's - I love your humor and candor and your self acceptance. It is refreshing. Keep writing.
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