My wife and I recently bought a gift for a friend of ours for his new home. He is a single man, with a well-furnished, well-decorated home. We thought it would be nice to give him some coasters so that he wouldn't mess up his new furniture. My wife went to five stores to find just the right ones, and she did--at Target.
Here's where things got interesting...
I was going out somewhere that put me in the neighborhood of our friend. I grabbed the coasters, still in the Target bag, and said that I would drop the coasters off on my way. My wife did not think that the gift should be delivered in a Target bag, so she went to her stash of gift bags to get an appropriate bag. She said, "there is no way I'm going to let you give somebody a gift in a plastic Target bag!"
Long story short...I told her that I, under no circumstances, was delivering a gift to another man IN A GIFT BAG! It just wasn't necessary. Guys don't care about the presentation of a gift. And, yes--I'll say it--doing so violated every masculine cell in my body.
After some peaceful "marital dialogue" we came up with the following compromise: The coasters would go in the gift bag. BUT the gift bag would go in the Target bag for delivery.
What do you think?
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13 comments:
well well lee... somehow i was quite amused reading ur experience and trst me i come across similar things almost everyday... i mean the quintessential differences and the way of thinking between mena nd wome differ from any thing to everything.. infact, my girlfreind has all these quarrels with me nout not so trivial issues and i jus smiled reding ur post...
You men always act like certain things aren't important, but you know that you all care. Especially if it is joint gift. You can't be selfish because of how you feel.
I am glad that the compromise was made. One thing for sure men and women will always have opposing point of views because that is how God had made us, but the beautiful thing is we can always get a good laugh depending on the issue and come up with the best solutions with the help of the Lord!
Well what was not so masculine about delivery a gift to a friend who happens to be a man in a gift bag. I don't see a problem with that. It's the presentation of the gift. If your going to give a gift to someone who you thought enough of to buy a gift for why not make it look presentable when you give it to them. Men are quite diffrent when it comes to things like that. If the coasters were wrapped would it have been ok? But, the bottom line is you still gave it to him in the gift bag although it was carreid in a gift bag. I understand you were protecting it from the rain. Was it really the fact people would see you with that gift bag or was it your just against giving gifts to a man in a gift bag. I'm sure you gave a gift to your father before. Was it in a target bag, brown paper bag, gift bag or wrapped? They sell all types of gift bags appropriate for all ages and genders. They even have religious bags. I'm glad you guys came to an agreement, because I didn't want to see no black eye(lol). Just kidding. Nobody take it the wrong way. I'm not saying this because I'm a women or siding with your wife but I just didn't see a problem with it.
I believe that men really are becoming more and more feminized. Men and women ARE different. I'm afraid that women all to often EXPECT men to think as they do. NO! The toilet is NOT SUPPOSED to be left down. Men and women are different, Accept it ladies, cute lil' shiny pastel gift bags don't do for the REAL guys!!
I think that was a great compromise, especially since I had the same discussion about a week ago and I ended up walking into my friend's housewarming with a purple gift bag. Exchanging gift bags is totally against all "man law", but you have to choose your battles.
It was a win-win situation. We both thought it was hilarious after the compromise, but it amazes me how some things so small could actually turn out to be a major problem if people don't understand the differences. There is no right or wrong answer, it's just about understanding.
My only concern is that because I live with Mr. Blogger, everything we do will end up as a topic for disussion (lol). Is the next one, WHY WOMEN SHOULDN'T WEAR ROLLERS AND HEADSCARVES TO BED? Life stays interesting and it's cool listening and reading other perspectives.
This is hilarious, but indicative of the disagreements that occur between men and women everyday.
I'm glad a compromise was reached.
Lee...now you know your wife...seriously, if the bag she chose wasn't to your liking since you were going to make the presentation, then you should have found sufficient, yet masculine...LOL...wrappings for the gift. A Target bag would never do...
This is Hilarious...I can't stop laughing..I am picturing the Lee walking to his friend's house with a lavender gift bag.
I knew that men and women were different but I never thought we were that different.
I am glad you were able to compromise
this is very very funny, since I know both of you,that discussion should have ben on video to be viewed by all, I know your wife can be stubborn, and you are a Pen State football player (laughing). after viewing all the comments from the guys we are still in the mind set, "us against them", get over it brothers, when men are sleeping women are planning, seek peace harmony and balance in all aspects of life, I dont care how you flip it, she will find a way to get her point across. but you are still the king of the castle, and her spiritual responsibility is to help keep you there. no matter what, every king needs a queen..now about the gift, Im a single guy who receives gift not that often, would apprecite it even if he bought it over in his pocket
LOL...my comments didnt make it yesterday. Dang!!! After reading the other posts its clear to me that giving a gift to another man, in a gift bag, is a waste. The men dont care about nice frilly bags, or bows, or wrapping paper. Just give him the gift, and a pound (handshake) and move on to the next topic. I'll even add kids to that. They just want the contents of the package. They can care less about the presentation. Who wrote these rules that women so often choose to live by? These mythical rules, certainly are not in Roberts Rules of Order. There are many other rules that I occasionally get hit with too. Maybe that will be my next blog topic. Hopefully, there were no paper cuts while placing the gift in the 'bag'.
i don't care how the gift came has long it's not in a pink wrap or bag. i'll be find with it..
This one was different for us. My husband says that in America we have created these Codes/Rules of what is "Manly" and I guess that makes me fortunate, whether the gift was delivered in a gift bag would have not been an issue, its just a BAG!! neither feminine nor masculine. Maybe our issue would have been how much did I spend on the bag? (smile)...However, Lee take a moment and reflect back to the wisdom gained from that famous episode of The Cosby Show when Vanessa brought Dabnus home for the first time...It's all in the presentation.
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