It's the thought that counts

The writing prompt from Mama Kat that I choose this week is...

#3 Describe a memorable gift. Why was it so important to you?

I love music and when the iPod came out (2001) I wanted one SO bad! Thing is... as a techy nerd, I wanted the biggest and bestest one... but they were pretty expensive when they first came out (I think $400+). I asked for an iPod for every birthday and Christmas that came... then my sister, who rightfully felt sorry for me and my lack of iPod bought me the iPod Shuffle for a gift when I graduated college. (2005) I loved it, and certainly appreciated it, but it just didn't take the want of a real big iPod away.

So I continued to ask for one for every birthday and Christmas (and everything in between). My mom said I would never use it. It's all I asked for every time a holiday rolls around! This was not a passing fancy!! She also used the excuse that it was too expensive, but at $250 for the model that I wanted it wasn't too expensive anymore to be my one and only Christmas present!

Tradition states that my parents and I travel to Chicago to my sister's house for Thanksgiving and that I go home to PA for Christmas. While in Chicago for Thanksgiving 2007 my mom, sister and I went shopping on the infamous black Friday. My mom bought a VERY expensive purse that she wanted because her birthday is right around the same time of Thanksgiving and my dad said she could pick her own purse. (Apparently he didn't want to buy the wrong one!) I was pretty appalled by how much the purse was but whatever she wanted.

This mall had an Apple Store and, of course, I had to go in, crowds and all. While I was in the store I got a sale flier which I promptly put into my mother's hand when I came out. I showed her the one I wanted and told her it was even on sale and it's all I wanted for Christmas... yet again. She looked at the price and said it was still too much to which I reminded her of her purse that she just bought. She didn't really appreciate that comment....

When we got back to my sister's house my mom showed my dad the purse she bought and he looked at the price tag... whoa... My dad hit the ceiling... As my mom sulked and my dad fumed I thought this to be the perfect time to chime in with "Yeah, she buys a purse that's (insert very expensive price here) and she won't even buy me an iPod for Christmas that's only $250!"

I don't know which one of my smart ass comments drove the point home, but needless to say I got my iPod for Christmas that year. I love it and use it ALL the time. I don't know if my mom was going to buy it for me that year or not... but that was one gift that will always be memorable. :)

I love you mom!!!

Check out other writing prompt posts at Mama Kat's!