Guys are Literally Literal

As the HH and I near our fourth anniversary, I’m reminded of how earnestly literal guys can be.

One year as Valentine’s Day approached, the HH asked me what I wanted as my gift.

I was glad he asked because I had something very specific in mind.

So I answered his question, telling him that I wanted a silver charm bracelet, so that I could collect charms representing our life together.

Weeks later, as we prepared to exchange gifts on Valentine’s Day, I saw the recognizable gift wrap, and knew that my charm bracelet had arrived!

But when I opened my gift, I was surprised to see that he had bought my charm bracelet--without any charms.

Of course, the whole point of a charm bracelet is to add charms as you go, but I thought he’d at least buy one to get me started--maybe a heart for Valentine’s Day.

But then I realized that I never said a charm bracelet AND a charm. I just asked for a charm bracelet, and that’s exactly what he got.

He had taken my gift request so adorably literal, that I never let on that I was little surprised there was no charm on the bracelet, and I proudly wore it the next day.

Since then, he’s added a wedding charm to mark our third anniversary, a dog charm for our fur baby, Skipper, and a sewing machine charm for my completion of the Project Make sewing class. I added a dolphin to represent the dolphins we saw while sailing in Belize.

I can’t wait to fill up my charm bracelet with lots of memories.

Compliment Him

A plain, grey tee taught me an important lesson when it comes to living with a man.

One day, I happen to mention to the HH that I thought he looked really nice in the grey t-shirt he was wearing.

The shirt wasn't anything expensive. Just a grey Fruit of the Loom shirt that he probably bought in a pack of multiples, but he still looked handsome to me.

I didn't think much about it, until a few weeks later he came home from one of the big-box stores with at least a half dozen grey t-shirts.

My compliment had resonated with him, and it occurred to me that all the old, married ladies who said that the best way to get a man to do what you want is to compliment him when he does something right, rather than nagging him when he does something wrong.

It was true for me that day.