getting it right

Lise and I were wandering through thrift shops last week. In one of them, she found a plush stuffed buffalo. While she was considering buying it, I told her that if she didn't want it, I did, as a gift for Patricia. After a bit of thought, she bought it herself, as a gift.

Yesterday, after a bit of deliberate build-up, of how she'd heard this would be just right, but if not, "say something noncommittal" and she'd take it back, she asked Patricia to close her eyes, and handed her the buffalo.

Nothing noncommittal was said: Patricia took it, delightedly, and carried it for the rest of the afternoon. Lise gave me credit for pointing her in the right direction, and Patricia thanked us both.

Sometimes giving people things, or helping find gifts, is a real pleasure.

getting it right

Lise and I were wandering through thrift shops last week. In one of them, she found a plush stuffed buffalo. While she was considering buying it, I told her that if she didn't want it, I did, as a gift for Patricia. After a bit of thought, she bought it herself, as a gift.

Yesterday, after a bit of deliberate build-up, of how she'd heard this would be just right, but if not, "say something noncommittal" and she'd take it back, she asked Patricia to close her eyes, and handed her the buffalo.

Nothing noncommittal was said: Patricia took it, delightedly, and carried it for the rest of the afternoon. Lise gave me credit for pointing her in the right direction, and Patricia thanked us both.

Sometimes giving people things, or helping find gifts, is a real pleasure.