Monday, December 7, 2009
4:36 AM
I.D. Bracelets
My dad gave me $5 one Christmas to buy something for my mom. Figuring I could get more money to buy my mom's gift, I instead bought an ID bracelet like this from the jewelry store for my boygriend, Evans Bailey. I don't know what I was thinking. I guess I was just trying to be more grown-up than I was and I thought buying my boyfriend a gift at a real jewelry store was a good way to achieve that. My dad was tight-fisted with money and he hated the idea of me having a boyfriend so he was more than just a tad warm when he found out what I did. All these years later, I don't mind that I got into trouble but I still feel guilty for using money that was meant to be spent on my mom, to buy something for a stupid jr. high boyfriend. I can't remember whether or not my dad gave me some more money to buy something for my mom but I sure hope that he did and that I bought her something terrific.
Related: During my 1st grade year, I saw an ID bracelet at Kress that I fell completely in love with. I immediately told my mom to put it on my Christmas wish list and over the coming December days, my love for that bracelet grew and grew. I have no idea why I wanted it so badly but I really, really did. I think it was the thing I was most looking forward to finding under the tree and given the amazing toys that our parents always left for us under our Christmas tree each year, that's saying quite a lot. A week or so before Christmas, I came home from school to find that my mom had placed a new package under our tree that was the exact shape and size of my bracelet so I knew that's what is surely was. That little package, setting at the foot of our tree drove me crazy for the next several days. I could barely stand the waiting. Finally, on the 23rd of December, my mom did something she rarely did. She left me at home with my dad in the middle of the day while she went to do some more Christmas shopping. My dad's good friend, Tommy, was also there and I remember vividly, them sitting at our kitchen table shooting the breeze while I watched an episode of "That Girl" and shook my Christmas presents. I soon realized they weren't really paying any attention to me so I decided I would try getting my ID bracelet early by asking Daddy if I could open it while he was preoccupied with his conversation with Tommy. LOL I know what you're thinking. You think it failed immediately, aren't you? LOL Well, it did eventually fail, but not immediately. In fact, I almost pulled it off.
I said, "Daddy, it's almost Christmas and I already know what this one little tiny present right here is so could I just go ahead and open it, please?"
Not really hearing what I asked him, and not wanting to interrupt his conversation, my Daddy said, "I guess" without even turning to look around or to really allow my words to register in his head. I was elated!!! So I started gently pulling the tape away from one end of the gift, smiling and thinking I had really pulled a fast one. lol Unfortunately, Tommy, who was actually facing me from where he sat, realized what I was doing and quickly said, "Choc! She's opening that present!". Ugh. I loved Tommy but I was so mad at him for that. I was just about 10 seconds away from having my beloved, much-anticipated ID bracelet free and clear. The only person who would have gotten into trouble for it was Daddy. It was a perfectly-executed plan. Almost.
LOL My dad turned immediately, saw me in the act, and told me to "put that present down right now!".
Dadgummit. I was so close.
The next night (Christmas Eve) I finally got the go-ahead to open presents and that bracelet was the first thing I grabbed. lol I got a lot of things that were way cooler than that, and I dearly loved all of it but I'm not sure I loved any of it more than I loved that silly little $5 bracelet. You know what I always say: the heart wants what the heart wants.
I wore the bracelet for a couple of years before I finally agreed to trade it to Ricky for his captain's hat. More about that infamous hat later....