Bring me no bears
We have one hard and fast rule in this marriage: No teddy bears. Ever.
Now, before you jump all over me, I’m not saying the little furry guys aren’t cute. They’re adorable, okay? They just aren’t me. Never have been a bear girl, and now that I’m bearing down on forty-five, I’m betting that’s not about to change.
My reason for telling you this is that I have a confession to make…I gave my husband insider information. You see, I wanted him to be the one. I wanted us to work out. I wanted it bad enough that I gave away the key to my relationship litmus test.
If a guy I was dating ever presented me a teddy bear, I gave him the old heave-ho.
Didn’t matter what the occasion. Ursine cuteness had no bearing on the ultimate decision. If the man I was seeing didn’t know me well enough to know I didn’t like teddy bears, or didn’t want to put forth the effort to give me a token of his affections that I might actually enjoy, then he wasn’t the fella for me.
That’s why my man gives me little charmers like this guy, who sings Muh-nuh, Muh-nuh:
And this little fella, who chases after his prey screaming, “Kissy kissy!”
As you can see, he took the lesson to heart. That’s why he’s still my Valentine.
How about you? What’s the best thing your beloved can give to prove their love for you?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 06:52:27
For me, it’s travel. Either vacation time which does NOT include visiting the family or retreat time.
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Feb 07, 2013 @ 09:37:40
Yes, Keri! Travel trumps all for me. Preferably to some place I haven’t been before.
This summer it’s Iceland. Can’t wait!
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Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:40:09
Travel is always a winner! Thanks, Keri!
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 07:09:19
Okay, you guys know I’m weird, right? The best presents he ever gave me were a motorcycle on my birthday, a Kindle for our anniversary, and PBR Finals tickets! Whoop!
I love that man . . .
Feb 07, 2013 @ 14:35:55
PBR Finals…AM so jealous!
Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:41:53
Nothing wrong with that! We saw the PBR show that came through the Arkansas State Fair last year. Strangely enough, DH didn’t appreciate the running commentary between me and my bestie. Go figure.
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 08:35:06
One year early in my writing career I asked for Tyvek envelopes for an anniversary present. Our funds were tight, those envelopes weren’t cheap, and I needed them to ship submissions to publishers. He was appalled. Said it wasn’t romantic. Still teases me, about 15 years later, about Tyvek envelopes.
But he got them for me.
I love your monster guy!
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Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:43:03
I love that you asked for office supplies. Sometimes Fodder lets me run wild in the Office Depot. I think he thinks it counts as foreplay.
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 09:14:35
You got yourself a good man there, Margaret! If a man wants to be my numero uno, he better come equipped with chocolate, sporting equipment, and a never-ending supply of peanut butter.
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Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:44:19
Oooh! A guy like that would be a catch! Thanks, Evelyn!
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 09:36:37
So it’s not cuteness you’re opposed to, just bears.
It’s always good when a man shows he can listen. That’s why my husband bought me cruise control for my car in college (still one of his best gifts ever), a ring for our 10th anniversary (while in Maui without the kids, just to prove he had it in him to give me something that wasn’t practical despite being an engineer), and more recently, an iPad.
True love.
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Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:46:17
No, I’m not opposed to cuteness – I have a bunny rabbit in my house, after all. There’s nothing better than those moments when your guy steps out of his comfort zone just to please you.
I think cruise control sounds terribly romantic.
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 10:07:55
My husband gives me kitchen appliances. I know. So not romantic. But I love them. For Valentines, we bought each other a deep fryer. He’s already made me deep-fried ice cream and I made him beignets. Nothing says love like deep-fried dough, right? LOL We tease that it’s actually healthier because the food doesn’t get fried, it’s in and out, spending less time in oil. He also knows I don’t prefer roses. He is the only guy in my life who actually “got” this. Don’t get me wrong, they’re beautiful, but kinda on every street corner… They take very little thought. I’d honestly rather have something picked from my garden than a bouquet of roses. Strange, I know. But it works. : )
Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:49:21
Beignets! I’ll be right over. Nothing says lovin’ like some deep-fried deliciousness! I’m not much on roses, either. I like them fine, but I’d rather have tulips or lilies. One year he sent me a bulb garden with tulips, hyacinths, etc. When it arrived it was a box of dirt. Two weeks later, it was heaven.
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 10:08:25
He bought me an eternity band for our anniversary, but the neat thing was it was for a ‘odd’ anniversary. He gave it to me on our 13th.
Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:49:59
Nice, Laurie! I got my pretty ring for our 11th. It’s nice when it’s unexpected.
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 14:39:20
Since my hubby never reads here, I can tell all, right?
Those are cute stuffed animals but seriously? I’m not into the cute item that may look romantic but would probably be loved by a teenage girl. Example, my hubby gave me a big, metallic, hot pink, shiny heart bank for my birthday IN DECEMBER!
Feb 07, 2013 @ 14:40:33
Oops, got cut off….
Any of you who know me would know this isn’t ANYTHING I would like. Unfortunately, it got broken during our renovations. Shattered all over the tile floor. So far, he hasn’t rushed out to buy another one..thank god!
Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:52:37
Cyndi, if you could hear these toys you would know they are anything but cute. They’re incredibly annoying. So annoying that they make me laugh. That’s why he does it. He buys the world’s most obnoxious toys for his obnoxious girl.
Yes, it can be tragic when those not-quite-right gifts meet with an untimely end.
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 16:06:46
Oh my gosh, this is adorable! I’m not averse to teddy bears as you are, Margaret, but have you seen the Valentine promotion out by that Vermont Teddy Bear factory. Huge, gargantuaan teddy bears. I turned to my husband who was watching the commercial with me and said, “Don’t you dare.” That thing is a gigantic dust catcher. Bad marketer, bad marketer
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Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:54:10
I said something similar when we were walking through Walgreen’s and he spotted the 3ft long stuffed weenie dog. Here’s hoping Teddy doesn’t show up at your house next week.
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:33:10
EEE. Kissy Kissy! I wuv you! I love that little guy.
I’m not picky when it comes to gifts. Anything that shows me that someone is thinking of me, I appreciate.
But, i get your disdain for teddy bears. They can be seen as a fall-back gift that require little effort.
You definitely got one of the good ones.
Feb 07, 2013 @ 21:54:42
Kissy – kissy loves you, Christine!
Margaret Ethridge recently posted..Monday Mayhem – Where’s Margaret?
Feb 08, 2013 @ 09:59:34
The biggest reason I don’t like bears and such is…what the heck to do with them? Am I supposed to keep a bear for the rest of my life because it was a gift for my husband?
And when is it okay to get rid of it? Next day???
Husband struggled so hard with Valentines last year. I shrugged and said, “I just want a box of chocolates. I’ve *never* gotten a box of chocolates for Valentines”
that’s what I got. and I was super pleased and thrilled.
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