Ah, Mother

[flea]

My mother called me at work just now, I think from her car (a terrible habit I cannot break her of), to ask me what I wanted for my birthday (which is Labor Day).

I gave her some suggestions (butter dish in the crockery pattern I am starting to collect; flower bulbs).

She said she didn't like any of my suggestions and what did I think about a small hooked rug?

I said we had a lot of small rugs and a big rug was probably out of her price range, and besides choosing a rug is a fairly big decorating choice and not a great gift from out of town.

Who wants to place bets on the chances I'll receive a small hooked rug in the mail next week?

My mother has never been able to understand that a gift is to please the recipient, not the giver. Also, she has confusion about the fact that I am, in fact, not her.

Comments

[veejane]

Ah ha ha. I just tell her, "I don't know," and then she tells me what she is getting me. Although I also give her what for so regularly that she is really clear that we are two people (or perhaps that I am her superego personified); so she phrases her statements about my gifts in the form of an unanswerable question.

So, what WOULD you like for your birthday, madam? I have not yet sent you a package.