Remember when you gave me the Mayan jade earrings?
It was the Friday before Christmas ’05. We agreed to meet at your place before you left to the Bay later that evening. Since we wouldn’t see each other on Christmas Eve or Christmas Day, we’d be exchanging gifts that evening. In your brightly lit bedroom full of books and replicas of Mesoamerican artifacts, we nervously argued over who should go first. You went first and handed me a box small enough to fit in my open palm.
When I opened the box, I didn’t seem too jazzed. My face — always my enemy in these situations — gave me away. Perhaps any girl who opens a small box containing anything aside from a diamond ring would’ve reacted the same. Of course, I wasn’t expecting a diamond ring. After all, we’d only been dating for six months. I wasn’t quite wifey material.
I told you that evening and several times later that I did like the earrings. I meant it, I’ve never been a good liar. The dark green jade felt nice in my fingers, incredibly smooth. They looked nice hanging from my ears too. Still, I rarely wore them. You never failed to point that out.
I had excuses. Good ones too. I didn’t have much in my closet that went well with Mayan jade. And they were heavy. I could only wear them for a few hours before my lobes started to hurt.
I wore the earrings yesterday. For the first time ever, I didn’t have to take them off half way through the day.
Lotería Chicana 
The dreaded gift exchange. So what did you give him? Did he make the same face when he opened your gift? I have learned to let my wife choose her gifts. Its so much easier that way and there is much less damage to the always fragile male ego
no picture of the earrings? they sound nice.
beautiful entry Cindylu. I had a similar experience (but in reverse). I gave Alejandra some earrings for christmas, in a small box. she didn’t seem happy. she was expecting a wedding ring. I had given her one when we first got married, but i was circunium (we were both in college and poor!) later I bought her a diamond one (against my own political principles). i wanted to see her happy. eventually, she found a local jeweler who designed her an original ring. well, peace and take care of your heart.
Is this the beginning of the saga Cindylu y …. hmmmm what nickname are you going to give this one?
Those are some tremendous earrings, Cindy. I’ve done similar. I got nothing at exchange and within months got back what I gave.
Let’s call this guy el arracadas.
TacoSam,
I think I gave him an electric masager. He was always asking for massages, so I figured with a machine he could do it himself.
Irasali,
Added a pic yesterday.
Tin,
The politics of diamonds are troubling. I know you can look for some that are “blood free” but don’t know if those are even less affordable.
P3000,
Uh, no. I’m not gonna go there.
Soledadenmasa,
You can call him el arracadas, but that doesn’t mean he’ll be featured in a series or something.
Jesus Christ, it’s like a couple of bricks hanging from paper clip wiring.
Did you really want a ring?