You don’t have to wish me a Happy Birthday, ’cause I’m already having one (altho’ it started way, way too early — I’ve been waking between 5 and 6, altho’ I try to stay in bed ’til 6 — today I woke at 5:15!! I’m going to be soooo tired by noon).
My very sweet and oh-so-well-trained husband surprised me with a most amazing gift. I knew it was going to be wonderful when he presented me with this bag
in which I found this box
which I quickly deribboned to find
This is much, much better than me choosing an item and then telling him what I want, where to buy it, what size, what colour, etc. (which is, in turn, better than hoping and hoping that you will get wonderfully surprised and then finding that your birthday was, well, not quite forgotten, but by the time it was remembered, shopping options were limited — I can play the martyr, but it’s not so attractive!). What amazes and pleases me about this scarf is that I can’t imagine picking anything better myself — sometimes you get a beautiful gift, but it’s not quite you, and exchanging it feels like a betrayal, if ever so slight, of the one who bought it. Paul’s choice tells me that he really pays attention to what I wear and to what looks good on me — a gift in itself!
The clever fellow left the gift-buying ’til as late as possible, somehow squeezing it into a very, very busy Friday afternoon trying to get his desk in order before our trip — I check our Mastercard statement online daily ever since some weird charges a few years ago, and he didn’t want me discovering a Hermès charge there. With our joint banking, and my OCD banking habits, surprising me is a challenge, and if he’d waited ’til this morning to hand over the goods, the amount of the charge, from such a recognizable vendor, would have screamed scarf.
Apparently, he popped into the Hermès store on Burrard in Vanc’r — right on his way home, how convenient!! — and told them he wanted to see a scarf with a blue base; they showed him several choices, and he knew this was the one. Besides the colours, I’m happy about the hearts and swans, and the name — De Tout Coeur, which I guess I’d translate as Wholeheartedly, with all one’s heart — when I wear it, it will be easy to remember our love!
So I don’t know that my birthday could get much better, but it very well may, since we’re driving down to Victoria — and in this sunshine, it will be a glorious drive, especially through the Malahat — to have lunch with my son. We should be back in time to have a lovely dinner, made by my clever and generous husband, and savour our wine in my favourite spot.
Wow, that is one perfect scarf. I suspect we will see more of it in future posts. Happy Birthday to a very special lady.
rachel
Happy Birthday!
Your husband did very well! It’s a lovely scarf. I’m sure you’ll use it a lot.
Oh, that scarf just takes my breath away!!! I can SO see you wearing this. What a wonderful and thoughtful husband you have! Happiest of birthdays to you!!!!!
Happy Birthday. The scarf is gorgeous. He clearly knows you well. Enjoy the sunshine!
Leona
Happy Birthday!! And lucky you – the scarf is beautiful, kudos to your husband! Patricia
Happy Happy Birthday to you!!!!
What an incredible and thoughtful gift! So glad you are having a wonderful day 🙂
Thanks to all of you. Although now I’m officially another year older (Freedom 55, anyone?!), I’m feeling very lucky and very happy.
Bon anniversaire, Materfamilias!! I hope your birthday and your year is as wonderful as your darling husband and that gorgeous scarf.
Happy birthday to you! A bit late I am sorry!
Lovely, lovely, lovely! Happy birthday, and congrats on chosing such a sweet and thoughtful husband. Well done, both of you!
Wow, what a gift! Happy Birthday to you.
More thanks, this time to LBR, Tina, Cybill, and new commenter, StyleSpy, who I’m very pleased (and a bit flattered, really) to see here.
Interesting coincidence that the day after I got my gorgeous scarf, The Thoughtful Dresser started a conversation about scarves, with numerous commenters speaking of the potential bourgeois-ness of the Hermès foulards. Personally, I rather think that fighting one’s inner bourgeois is a foolish and losing battle, and I’d rather embrace my and give her a bit of funk while I’m at it, but I have to disagree that these scarves necessarily look matronly. I think panache comes with the way one wears a scarf. Believe me, I was not giving off any ho-hum, just another bourgeois silk scarf, when I wore my baby yesterday!
Wow! What a guy!
Have a wonderful day – and many more happy years to come.
Please tell me you didn’t put that on the kitchen floor — oh wait, it was your kitchen, not mine, where twin 1 repeatedly chucks any food that doesn’t immediately appeal. Gorgeous! Now we need some modeling shots! Happy birthday.
Thanks, Polly — yes, he’s definitely a keeper!
Dana: I did clear away the dog hairs first! Modeling shots to come . . . and thanks for the b.d. wishes
What a deeply thoughtful gift, all the attention to creating the surprise- his heart truly in it!
BTW I have posted my take re that “bourgeois” comment on The Thoughtful Dresser on my blog, Passage des Perles.
Duchesse: yes, I read your post and responded to it over there. Well said.
A very belated HAPPY BIRTHDAY. I am always late, The scarf is genius I envy you and lust the packaging as much as the silk. NOTHING trumps a Hermes Foulard, well, except your husband I guess, ould he possibly have a chat with Emin who would rather give his money away to a passing stranger than ever but me a gift!
Happy Belated Birthday!
Alison: Yes, you and Emin will have to come for a lesson and Paul can dispense the wisdom he has finally learned (as I say, years and years of training on my part)
Thanks Gina!
That is the perfect Hermes scarf! Your husband has great taste!