The Birthday Present That I Can Never Top

photo by 'smil

Have you ever given someone a gift and realized that it was so good, so perfect, so wonderful that you will never be able to give that person a better gift?

Maybe you wandered through a vintage thrift store and found your best friend one of those plastic charm necklaces that you guys used to be crazy about when you were kids.

Or, maybe you sent your parents on the trip they had always dreamed about but just never could bring themselves to spend the money on.

This year, I gave Eric a watch for his birthday.  He hasn’t had one in years, and had been missing it badly.  He knew he was getting the watch though.  He picked it out.  Not only does it tell time, but it has a compass and thermometer on it.  He has been amusing us by telling us what direction he is standing.   He looks pretty cute wearing it too.  Funny how a gift that weighs just a few ounces could bring him so much excitement.

But, no, that gift of a few ounces is not the gift that I can’t top.  Eleven years ago, I simply didn’t have the time or energy to buy him a gift.  Still, he said that the 7 pound 3 ounce gift that I gave him on his 24th birthday was the best — our first child, Noah.

Happy birthday to two of my boys — the one who is taller than me, and the one who (sadly) will probably be taller than me very soon.  You have both brought such love and laughter into my life.  It’s funny how it’s your birthdays, but I feel like I got the gift.

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