'Tis More Blessed . . .

When you reach the first Christmas of a relationship, and your primary goal is reducing debt and guarding spending, choosing a gift for your loved one is a challenge.

I had been keeping my eyes and ears open, watching and listening to the Jazzman's spoken and unspoken wishes. From the night I put a lamp on the end of the bedroom dresser, he would get into bed, then clap his hands twice, imitating the commercials for "The Clapper". He'd mutter about forgetting to turn the light out before getting into bed, then get up, turn it off, and slip between the sheets again. It became a standing joke until turning the light off first became a habit.

So I logged into the internet and started searching for a Clapper. Amazon had the best price, and he just laughed when he opened the package. The next afternoon, he installed the device, and it has become my favorite household appliance. Really!

It's been getting dark at 5:00 here. I walk out of my office into a totally dark hallway. I climb the three steps to the bedroom level, make my way to the bedroom door, and clap twice. Voila! There's light in the bedroom. It's just magical. Such a simple, silly gift, and we love it! And the model I bought has a remote in case your bedmate is already asleep. Genius!

I also got him something less silly—a pair of Tec Touch gloves that will enable him to text or write an e-mail without removing his gloves. (He hasn't used them yet, while he uses the Clapper several times a day! Guess which is his favorite.)

Oh, you want to know what he got me? Two very valuable gifts: a new iPhone 4 to replace my broken-screened early model iPhone, and a water heater. I have always loved practical gifts!!

Hope you got what you really wanted. I did: a very thoughtful man!!