Ask Annie for Dec. 17, 2003 Dear Annie,
As usual, I'm going shopping for my wife's Christmas present December 24. Last year I got her horse tack (she's crazy about her horses,) but this year I want to get her something more personal. Any suggestions?
Big Dave, Mineral, WA
Dear Dave,
I take your letter to mean you want to buy your wife something more feminine this year, because, for a horse rider, horse tack is a "personal" gift. However, ladies love good smelling stuff! Candles, bubble bath, perfume and sachets are all nice. (Sachets are those smelly pillows women put in their dresser drawers.) A fluffy bathrobe and slippers are very welcome this time of year, too. After hearing a discussion among the men I work with, I must caution that cash is not an appropriate gift for your spouse or girlfriend, and should not be among your choices. I am hoping that certain brand of buffoonery is confined to those gentlemen I am forced to associate with in order to make my living, but just in case, know that women do not appreciate gifts that allow them to better wait on you, either. For instance, offering a waffle iron because you love waffles is not a good idea. If I were a man, I would not buy my wife a vacuum cleaner, or a new set of barber clippers the better with which to cut your hair, my dear. Pay attention for just a few days and you will notice if she drinks tea, for example, and you can buy her some fancy tea and a new teapot. Does she need a jewelry box in which to store her treasures? The only reason car stereo equipment is okay is if what's in there now doesn't work. Don't buy her a gun for any reason. Merry Christmas!
Annie
Please write to: Annie, P.O. Box 1084, Eatonville,WA 98328
E-mail: letters_annie@hotmail.com
Past Ask Annies:
Dec. 17, 2003 Christmas Gift for Wife?
Dec. 10, 2003 Thanks to Food Bank Helpers
Dec. 3, 2003 Child's Names on Belongings & Appreciating Family at Holidays
Nov. 26, 2003 Big Family Thanksgiving with Paper Plates
Nov. 12, 2003 Husband Driven Nuts To Do Crafts By Wife
Nov. 5, 2003 Dreading Husband's Retirement
Oct. 29, 2003 Move back home from boyfriend's house?
Oct. 22, 2003 Did I raise my daughter to do these things?
Oct. 15, 2003 Misunderstanding about School Workers' Kindness
Oct. 8, 2003 Prayer for Brown Sisters Killed and Change Schoolyear to Oct.1 to June 30
Oct. 1, 2003 Response About Non-tipping Lotto Winner
Sept. 24, 2003 Church-goers Inattentive
Sept. 17, 2003 Friend Sells My Stuff on Ebay
Sept. 10, 2003 Lottery Winner Didn't Tip Clerk
Sept. 3, 2003 Business Insults to Consumers
Aug. 27, 2003 Divison of Wedding Expense
Aug. 20, 2003 School Workers' Kindness & Men's Attractiveness
Aug. 13, 2003 Attractiveness Hints
Aug. 6, 2003 Annie's Husband's Accident at Work
July 30, 2003 Deer Automatic Sprinkler Best & Stores Don't Stock Washington Clothes
July 23, 2003 Scarecrows and Halloween Decorations Scare Off Prowlers Too
July 16, 2003 Redhead Asks Attractiveness Advice
July 2, 2002 Atomatic Deer Scarecrow Blasts Prowler