Sweet Surprises

There’s something extra special about receiving a gift for no reason: “just because”.

I got to thinking this week about some of the sweet gifts and surprises that the hubster has given me over the years.

He just saw or thought of something that he knew I would like, and instead of putting it off until my birthday, Valentine’s Day or our anniversary, he just went with it. (Yes, he’s a gem, and no, you can’t have him 😉 ).

It started even before we were married …

Sweet Surprise #1

You know how the expensive perfume and makeup brands in department stores sometimes offer a “free gift with purchase”?

I couldn’t believe my eyes when he presented me with a box of perfume and one of these gift bags. He’d bought – Beautiful by Estee Lauder (which I wore on our wedding day) – and it came with a gorgeous apricot frosted lipstick (it was the 80’s people!), mascara, and a couple of other small items.

I felt like a princess I tell ya. It was the most thoughtful (and probably expensive) gift I’d ever received – and he bought it for me for no particular reason, except that he knew I’d like it.

Sweet Surprise #2

The princess theme continued on our wedding day – when I arrived at the church, he had hired a red carpet runner for me to walk down. Seriously. I felt like a princess, or a movie star.

Sweet Surprise #3

My Bear has always supported and encouraged me with my hobbies, even repairing and giving me an old sewing machine when I expressed a desire to do sewing classes early in our relationship. He knew I loved writing letters to penpals (back in those days) so I shouldn’t have been surprised when one winter day in 1998, I got home from visiting a friend, to find that he had hooked us up to the internet.

Yes, those are real tears in my eyes. I was so touched.

Sweet Surprise #4

We went through a spell when I was feeling rather neglected,  as he was not only working full time but also studying part time. Many evenings I went to bed on my own, while he worked on assignments late into the night. I was lonely and missing his cuddles … so when the book club at work had a gorgeous soft toy puppy for sale, he bought it for me so I would have somebody to cuddle when he couldn’t be there. Sophie de la Snuggles is a very snuggly puppy and has been a much loved member of our family for about 12 years now, and has even travelled with me – click to see her holiday snaps, from when we did a South Pacific cruise!

If anybody is sick or feeling blue, Sophie gives the best snuggles!

Sweet Surprise #5

In 2004 we bought a tiny old worker’s cottage on a large waterfront block; the plan was to subdivide it and make a tidy profit (we didn’t, but that’s a story for another day. Damn GFC). Not many people would have been prepared to live in that house as it was pretty run down, but we slapped some paint on it, laid some cheap carpet and moved in.

The kitchen however had ancient cracked and peeling lino – until I went away on a women’s retreat one weekend, and arrived home to find … new lino!!!!!

Sweet Surprise #6

Anniversaries are special to us. We might not always buy each other a gift or organise a weekend getaway, but we always try to do something a bit special, even if it’s just watching a movie on Netflix together.

But I would never have even realised we had been married for nearly 10 000 days, let alone created a very special surprise gift to mark the occasion!

Sweet Surprise #7

Last winter, we were out shopping and we both admired a parka jacket in Kmart – but for whatever reason I didn’t end up buying it.

A couple of weeks later my Bear got home from work and presented me with a shopping bag, and inside – you guessed it – was the parka! It came in very handy when we spent a couple of days in the Gold Coast Hinterland for his 50th birthday in July 🙂 .

These are only a few of the sweet surprises he has organised for me over the years, remembering them is a great way to boost my spirits and remind myself how very lucky I am.

I’m not sure if it works the other way though, if I have organised any gifts or surprises “just because” that are significant enough for him to remember – I’ll have to ask him. While I do surprise him with new clothes or his favourite snacks from time to time, it’s probably not all that exciting … might have to lift my act!

What is the most memorable surprise gift that you’ve ever received?!

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