Posted by
Playful Walrus on Sunday, March 16, 2008 1:06:26 PM
No, really. A woman wrote in to Dear Abby
and complained that her husband bought her diamond earrings as a gift. This is another example of why some men are on a marriage strike. Ticked Off in Rhode Island writes...
I recently turned 40, and because I don't get along with my husband "Ted's" family, I chose to celebrate out of town with my parents and siblings. At the end of my five-day trip, Ted picked me up at the airport and barely greeted me.
Your parents and siblings? You wrote that you were 40. Perhaps you meant to write 14? You left your husband (you know - the man you are supposed to cleave to after you leave your family of origin) behind for five days, and then are ticked that he didn't make a big deal when he picked you up at the airport? You are darn lucky he picked you up at all.
When he finally handed me the box, Ted didn't even wait for me to open it. He went off to take a shower.
Ah. So it is okay for you to be gone for five days, but not okay for him to be gone for ten minutes.
I waited for him to finish, then opened the gift in front of him. Inside was a pair of diamond earrings.
That
jerk!!!
I have never wanted diamond earrings, and I have told him so many times. I had asked Ted for cash so I could buy a new sewing machine. Why diamond earrings?
Women tell men all of the time "Oh, don't make a big deal about my birthday/Valentine's Day/Christmas - if you're going to get me something, don't go through too much trouble." But most of the time, women who say that ARE
LYING! And most women would pitch a fit at getting cash, or a sewing machine. Perhaps you have done something in the past that would indicate to him that he'd be better off getting you jewelry? Most women would prefer the jewelry, even if they tell their husband a "practical" gift is preferred.
That night we had a major quarrel, and now I'll never be able to enjoy them.
Great. So he tried to do something nice for a woman who hates his family and leaves him for five days to "celebrate her birthday", and his reward is a fight with a whiny, ungrateful woman, who will spite him by not wearing the jewelry.
What do I do with them now?
Turn them in for cash, and get your husband an expensive call girl. He probably needs the release. Okay, so I'm kidding about that. Kind of.
To her credit, Dear Abby told the woman to apologize, and then to get marriage counseling. Dear Abby says there is a "communication problem". Uh, yeah. Well, if you mean that he ignored her insistence that she didn't want diamond earrings... that's a minefield. Back when I was unmarried, I decided to take women at their word (and I still do). I warned them ahead of time. If she said "Don't make a big deal", then I didn't. If I asked what was wrong, and she said "NOTHING!!!", then I would reply, "Great! So we can both enjoy this evening." Guess what? I was "wrong" to listen to what these women actually told me. So don't give me this junk about a lack of communication, unless you mean that she should always say exactly what she means.
The printed letter does not indicate whether or not they have children or this woman is employed. If she's not employed, especially if they don't have children, it is all money he's earned anyway, and she should be grateful for the gift... and the gift of a home, and all of the other things he pays for, including the trip for her to be away from him.
Hey, I just thought of something. Sure, it wasn't a tennis bracelet, but they were diamonds... hmmmm... perhaps he had an affair while she was away "celebrating her birthday with her family" (
wink, wink) and this is one of those "I cheated on you" guilt gifts.