I was talking with a friend about things
people collect when he told me about a fellow who collected running
shoes that belonged to famous runners. His collection was world class
and he was only lacking a pair from the most famous long distance runner
of all time. At a birthday bash for the rich collector there sat a
wrapped box with a big bow on it that contained what were rumored to be
THE SHOES. With trembling fingers the collector carefully unwrapped the
box which contained the final piece to his collection. Sure enough, the
box contained the shoes the runner was wearing when he won his last
Olympics: much to the collector’s dismay the box was empty.
The greatest long distance runner in history ran barefoot!
I
enjoyed the story and the conversation turned toward the science of
gift giving. I casually mentioned that my wife and I had just enjoyed
our 44th wedding anniversary and my friend asked what I got my wife. “I
got her exactly what the shoe collector got. Nothing! It’s the same
thing I give her every year for her birthday and Christmas. Nada! In
fact, I think not giving presents to each other is the secret to our
long and happy marriage.”
The
reason we refrain from giving gifts is not because I’m the world’s
biggest tightwad, which I am. It’s just that my wife is an easy-keeper
and already has everything she wants. And it’s at my wife’s insistence
that we don’t buy frivolous gifts and I ALWAYS do what I’m told. The
last piece of jewelry I bought my wife was her wedding ring, which she
doesn’t wear because it gives her blood blisters when digging post
holes.
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