My dad and I have a tradition where I take him shopping every December to buy my mom Christmas gifts. I pick him up, we go to JC Penny’s and then to dinner. I have always cherished this tradition. For many reasons, but mostly because I love to see him pick out gifts for my mom. He is so cute and sweet with everything he picks. There is always a reason behind each gift too. For example, the bright yellow (and I mean BRIGHT yellow) pant suit one year. I saw it a mile away and so did dad. When he saw it, his eyes lit up like the 4th of July. He said, “your mom will look pretty in that with her tan.”
Well, now that dad is no longer driving, he has asked me to take him at other times as well. So, with today being Valentine’s Day, he asked me if I would take him to look for something special for mom and then have dinner. I absolutely said yes!
When I got to my parent’s house, my mom was in the front room. She seemed a little flustered and mentioned that it had been a rough day. Started early at 2 a.m. when he woke her up to start getting ready for our outing. She had said that the last few days, she noticed that my dad has gone into the bathroom to take a shower, but not really taking one. She said she let it slide for a day or two, but he started to look a little disheveled. I asked where dad was, and she said he was back in the bedroom getting ready. She had told him he needed to shower because I was coming over and taking him out which he did without hesitation. Out walks dad in his jeans, a nice cotton pale green shirt tucked in perfectly and his belt crooked. His hair was combed just right, and he smelled delightful. The scent of Stetson aftershave whiffed through the air. So much in fact that my mom started to cough. But for me, it was a sign of sweetness, that my dad wanted to smell nice for our outing.
As dad is attempting to put on his coat, my mom is standing there asking him if he had his wallet, his money, his credit card, and his handkerchiefs. Reminded him he needed to pay for dinner, said his coat was on crooked, and told him not to spend a lot of money on gifts. Dad was clearly getting flustered and stopped in the moment and told mom if she kept acting like that, he wasn’t going to get her nothing. He then asked mom if she was going with us and when she said no, he said “good.” I guess you would have to know my parents and how they communicate. This has been the way it has been all my life. There is no malice behind it and they get over it quickly.
We arrive at the store, and we go straight to the jewelry counter. I gave dad some space and allowed him to look on his own for that special gift. I looked back at him every once in awhile as he was looking at the displays, wondering what he was thinking. I knew he was trying to find just the right gift for mom. Finally, dad stood at one of the displays and motioned over for me. I walked over to him and asked him if he found something. He pointed to a necklace and said he didn’t like it because it was gold. I reminded him that mom wore gold, and it might be the metal he should choose. Then at the very corner of the display cabinet was a hummingbird necklace. He asked me if it was long enough knowing that mom does not like tight, shorter necklaces. I explained that it was 18 inches, but we could always get a necklace extender to make it longer. He liked that idea and stated that mom liked hummingbirds and it would look pretty next to the cardinal necklace he got her last year. I agreed with him. The gentleman at the counter helped take the necklace out and show it to my dad. Dad said he would take it. He didn’t ask the price, he never does. Which is another sweet gesture he has always done. It doesn’t matter the cost of the item, if he thinks my mom will like it, it is hers. Next to the hummingbird necklace was another necklace with a butterfly on it. Dad motioned for the man to take out that one too as he wanted to purchase that as well because mom has a birthday in February, and she needed a gift for that special day too.
As the JC Penny employee is wrapping up the necklaces, my dad notices a third necklace. This one had a long, dangling snake encrusted with diamonds. Dad pointed to it and looked at me. I gave him a look as if I was asking him “are you serious?” Dad smiled and said, “well with her attitude tonight she deserves that hanging around her neck so it scares the hell out of her.” (Silver lining).
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